Nikhil Dhaka, Vice President, Public Policy at Primus Partners, shares his view on the strategic importance of rare earth elements during Episode 598 of The Core Report with Govindraj Ethiraj. He highlights that rare earths—comprising 17 elements—are essential for wind turbines, electric vehicles, and industrial motors, particularly due to their role in manufacturing permanent magnets. While China currently dominates global magnet production, Dhaka pointed out that India holds the fifth-largest rare earth reserves, especially across coastal states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. He emphasised that tapping into these domestic resources is critical for meeting India’s long-term EV and clean energy goals.