Battery Summit 2026: Kishan Reddy Outlines Strategy for Self-Reliant and Globally Competitive Battery Sector
Speaking at the Battery Summit 2026 in New Delhi, G. Kishan Reddy said batteries would play a pivotal role in helping India achieve its net-zero ambitions and its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
June 17, 2026. By Abha Rustagi
Speaking at the Battery Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Reddy said batteries would play a key role in helping India achieve its net-zero ambitions and its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
"India has already taken a series of bold and forward-looking decisions to secure our clean energy future under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji. The next phase of this journey requires a resilient battery ecosystem that depends on how effectively India secures critical minerals and strengthens its domestic manufacturing capabilities. Strategic partnerships and investments driven by forward-looking policies will be essential to unlocking the true potential of this transition."
India is seeking to reduce its dependence on imported battery materials and technologies as demand for energy storage and electric mobility accelerates.
According to estimates presented at the summit, India's annual requirement for lithium-ion battery variants is expected to increase to 220 GWh by 2030 from 20 GWh in 2022, representing an annual growth rate of about 50 percent.
The country's lithium-ion battery imports have also risen sharply, increasing from USD 1.2 billion in 2018-19 to USD 4.7 billion in 2025-26, highlighting the growing need for domestic manufacturing capacity.
Reddy said the government had undertaken more than 570 critical mineral exploration projects across the country and auctioned 46 critical mineral blocks since 2015, including 22 in the past 18 months.
"To support this vision, more than 570 critical mineral exploration projects have been taken up across the country, and 46 critical mineral blocks have been auctioned since 2015, including 22 in the last one-and-a-half years alone. India has also secured lithium assets in Argentina as part of its efforts to build resilient global supply chains for critical minerals."
The minister added that the government was strengthening the innovation ecosystem through nine Centres of Excellence focused on critical minerals and advanced technologies, while four Critical Mineral Processing Parks were being developed to boost domestic value addition.
"We are strengthening the innovation ecosystem through the establishment of nine Centres of Excellence focused on critical minerals and advanced technologies. At the same time, four Critical Mineral Processing Parks are being developed to enhance domestic value addition and reduce import dependence. The Government has also approved an INR 1,500 crore Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme to promote circularity and resource security," the minister said.
The summit, organised by Battery360 in partnership with WRI India, Energiva Ventures, ARCI, NETRA and the Critical Minerals Association (India), brought together policymakers, industry executives, investors and researchers to discuss strategies for building a domestic battery value chain.
During the event, WRI India and IIT Roorkee signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on battery innovation, research and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The summit also featured a technology showcase featuring more than 20 startups working on advanced battery chemistries, energy storage systems, battery management technologies, and recycling solutions, as well as the launch of reports focused on battery traceability, data management frameworks, and policies supporting the localisation of electric vehicle and battery manufacturing.
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