<p>The rapid expansion of electric mobility and energy-storage deployment in India is driving a steep rise in lithium-ion battery (LIB) consumption, projected to exceed 127 GWh by 2030. This surge will generate unprecedented volumes of end-of-life (EOL) waste, increasing from about 50,000 metric tons in 2025 to more than 2 million metric tons per year by 2030. India’s heavy reliance on imported critical elements lithium, cobalt, and nickel, —exposing the domestic ecosystem to over USD 5 billion in import vulnerability—makes large-scale recycling essential for resource security. Although formal systems currently process less than 5% of EOL LIBs, hydrometallurgy offers high recovery efficiencies (&gt; 95%), and emerging direct physical recycling pathways provide energy-efficient alternatives by preserving cathode structure. However, weak enforcement of the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) 2022, limited collection networks, and the dominance of informal recyclers impede circularity. This review synthesizes India’s technological capabilities, economic potential, and regulatory gaps, demonstrating that digital traceability, recycled-content mandates, and targeted financial incentives are critical for enabling a robust domestic recycling ecosystem. Strengthening policy implementation and scaling advanced recycling technologies could position India as a global leader in sustainable battery-material recovery.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p> <p>Key pillars of sustainable lithium-ion battery management: recovery, recycling, circular economy, storage, e-waste, and policy</p>