Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 (representative photo)NEW DELHI: As India aims to build a robust framework for self-reliance in critical minerals, govenment has asked researchers and technology innovators to develop technical solutions to create a secure and resilient critical minerals ecosystem in the country.Coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026, aimed at strengthening the objectives of National Critical Mineral Mission by encouraging students, researchers, academic and R&D institutions, start-ups and innovators to tackle identified challenges pertaining to critical minerals.Organised and hosted by Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, Nagpur, the hackathon provides a platform for participants to showcase their ideas, receive expert mentorship and contribute to building a secure and self-reliant critical minerals ecosystem in India.Govt said the hackathon will focus on two key areas: using publicly available data to identify areas that are likely to have deposits of critical minerals such as lithium and rare earth elements, and developing a simple web-based system to track research, new technologies and patents related to critical minerals. Two winning teams will be awarded prizes for each problem statement.