<p>Critical minerals are indispensable to modern industrial development, national security, and the transition to low-carbon energy systems. The secure supplies of these minerals are increasingly at risk because of their limited availability and the geographical location of extraction and processing facilities which exists only in few regions of the world. These minerals are vital to numerous strategic sectors, such as advanced electronics, telecommunications, defense, transportation, and renewable energy technologies, particularly in achieving India’s global net-zero carbon emissions targets. Consequently, identifying and establishing the evolving extraction techniques for these minerals has become a strategic imperative in India’s development. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the significance of critical minerals, their major industrial applications, and the extraction techniques applied to secondary resources. The focus is particularly relevant for India, where primary deposits of many critical minerals are largely absent, making secondary sources essential for meeting future demand. Over the years, many critical metals have accumulated in processing and mining residues, primarily because of economic constraints and inadequate processing technologies. As global demand intensifies, these solid wastes are now recognized as significant secondary resources for critical metal recovery. Reprocessing such materials involves tailored combinations of mineral processing, metal extraction, and recovery technologies. Although conventional techniques are often applied, adaptations are necessary to account for waste streams altered physical and chemical characteristics, which may have already undergone partial beneficiation.</p>