Explanation: Months after lithium reserves were discovered in Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, it is now being reported that a reserve of the cosmic mineral has been discovered in Jharkhand as well.

• The eastern state—surrounded by Chhattisgarh, Bihar and West Bengal—is already known for reserves of Uranium, Mica, Bauxite, Granite, Gold, Silver, Graphite, Magnetite, Dolomite, Fireclay, Quartz, Feldspar, Coal (32 per cent of India), Iron, Copper (25 per cent of India) etc.
• Popularly known as ‘white gold’, lithium is one of the most sought-after minerals globally amid the push towards electric vehicles (EVs), owing to climate change.
• Only a handful of countries in the world have lithium reserves, be it in the form of salt lake brine or mines.
• Yet China, without having the largest lithium reserves, continues to dominate lithium mining and processing.

Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy/story/jharkhand-emerges-as-the-latest-hub-of-lithium-reserves-in-india-400491-2023-10-03