Context:
The US-India Business Council has formed a Critical Minerals Security Task Force after India and the US signed a bilateral Critical Minerals Framework. The move aims to deepen cooperation in critical mineral supply chains and reduce dependence on China-dominated processing networks.
Explanation:
- Critical minerals are minerals essential for modern technologies, clean energy, electronics, defence, semiconductors and electric mobility.
- They include lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, gallium, tungsten, rare earth elements and copper.
- China controls nearly 90% of global critical mineral processing, creating supply-chain dependence for many countries.
- Critical minerals are required for EV batteries, renewable energy systems, electronics, magnets, defence equipment and data-centre technologies.
- India has identified 30 critical minerals, and many overlap with the US priority list.
- Key cooperation areas include lithium refining, cathode active materials, recycling, graphite production, rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing.
- India has negligible lithium refining capacity, making battery supply chains import-dependent.
- India is also promoting rare earth permanent magnets to support domestic manufacturing and reduce China-linked vulnerabilities.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040