The Union Cabinet approved new royalty rates for critical minerals — Graphite, Caesium, Rubidium, and Zirconium — shifting from flat per-tonne charges to a percentage-based Average Sale Price (ASP) model. Graphite royalty was set at 2% for high-grade (80%+ carbon) and 4% for lower-grade.

The move aligns with India's push to secure critical minerals supply chains for EV batteries, semiconductors, and defence applications. Rajasthan holds significant deposits of graphite in Ajmer and Alwar districts, and the revised royalty framework could incentivize exploration and mining activities in the state.