States' News

Lithium and Gallium Exploration Pact

August 18 , 2026 13 hrs 0 min 30 0

The Andhra Pradesh government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) for extensive exploration of lithium and gallium deposits in the Vempalle area of Kadapa Basin.
Lithium concentration is estimated to be as high as 1,000 parts per million (ppm), while gallium levels are estimated at up to 250 ppm.
The National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) is a geoscientific research organization established in 1961 under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
CSIR is India's largest Research and Development organization.
CSIR was established as an autonomous body in 1942 under the aegis of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The Kadapa Basin (historically known as the Cuddapah Basin) is a large, crescent-shaped sedimentary basin located in Andhra Pradesh, India, renowned for its massive mineral wealth and ancient Proterozoic rock formations.