Vivek Bharadwaj, Ministry of Mines secretary, told Mint newspaper that India had been "re-orienting its exploration measures" to meet this goal.Around the world the demand for rare metals, including lithium, has increased as countries look to adopt greener solutions to slow down climate change.In 2023, China signed a $1bn (£807m) deal to develop Bolivia"s vast lithium reserves, which are estimated at 21m tonnes and the largest in the world.