India-U.K. Critical Minerals Partnership

Why in the news?

India and the United Kingdom launched the Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) to strengthen cooperation in critical minerals, clean energy, and resilient supply chains.

Key Highlights

• Observatory launched: Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO).
• Objective: Monitor and analyse global critical mineral supply chains using data-driven systems.
• Aim:
  • Expand cooperation in:
    • Critical minerals
    • Technology sharing
    • Clean energy transition
    • Supply chain resilience
• Jointly operated by:
  • Technology Innovation in Exploration and Mining Foundation (TEXMiN)
  • Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad
  • University of Cambridge
• First announced during:
  • Visit of Keir Starmer to India in October 2025.
• Indian side:
  • Union Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy highlighted the role of the initiative in strengthening global supply chains.
• Other areas discussed during India-U.K. talks:
  • Trade
  • Defence
  • AI
  • Climate cooperation
  • Technology
  • Education
  • People-to-people ties
• External Affairs Minister: S. Jaishankar held discussions with U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

What are Critical Minerals?

• Critical minerals are minerals essential for:
  • Clean energy technologies
  • Electronics
  • Defence manufacturing
  • Electric vehicles
  • Renewable energy systems
• Examples: Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite, and Rare Earth elements
• Importance: Supply disruptions can affect economic and national security.

[2025] Consider the following statements:
I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.
II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.
III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

[A] I and II only

[B] II and III only

[C] I and III only

[D] I, II and III