New Delhi, Aug. 8 -- India's shift towards clean energy could create a new layer of import dependence on critical minerals, with the country currently fully dependent on imports for 15 of the 23 critical energy-transition minerals assessed, according to a joint report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and EY.

The report said the nature of India's energy-security challenge is changing as renewable energy, battery storage, electric mobility and modern power infrastructure expand.

Critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, silicon and rare earth elements will become increasingly important for the clean-energy transition. The report said India will need to strengthen domestic exploration, processing, manufacturing and re...