Brics day 2: PM flags critical minerals, tech weaponisation amid global tensions
On the second day of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India's Prime Minister warned that the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals could hinder shared global progress
The remarks were made during the summit's session on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability at Bharat Mandapam
India called for stronger, more resilient and diversified supply chains and inclusive access to technology among developing economies
The New Delhi Declaration adopted at the summit called for "reliable, responsible, diversified, resilient, fair, sustainable, and just" critical-mineral supply chains
Critical Minerals and Supply-Chain Weaponisation
Critical minerals are raw materials — such as rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and graphite — essential to clean-energy technologies, electronics, and defence manufacturing, where global supply is concentrated in a handful of countries, creating strategic vulnerability.
Key Details
- China controls over 90% of global rare-earth magnet processing capacity and has periodically imposed export curbs (notably since April 2025), a dominant reference point for "weaponisation" concerns raised by other economies
- Rare-earth elements (17 elements including neodymium and dysprosium) are critical for permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and defence systems
- The concern over supply-chain weaponisation echoes earlier disputes over semiconductor export controls and dual-use technology restrictions among major economies
- India's own import dependence on critical minerals — especially lithium, cobalt, and nickel for battery manufacturing — has driven a domestic policy response
The Prime Minister's remarks reflect India's dual position: as a developing economy wary of being cut off from critical mineral or technology supply chains by dominant producers, while also emerging as a resource-security policymaker in its own right.
National Critical Mineral Mission (India)
India's National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is the flagship domestic policy response to critical-mineral import dependence, aimed at securing supply chains for the clean-energy transition.
Key Details
- Approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025, with a total outlay of approximately ₹34,300 crore over seven years (FY 2024-25 to FY 2030-31)
- Covers exploration, mining, beneficiation, and recycling of critical minerals, alongside overseas asset acquisition through entities like KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited)
- The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 first introduced the statutory category of "critical and strategic minerals" and enabled auctioning of critical mineral blocks
- Complements India's push for "Atmanirbhar Bharat" in strategic sectors like semiconductors, defence, and renewable-energy manufacturing
India's domestic critical-mineral mission gives concrete policy weight to its BRICS-stage call for diversified, non-weaponised supply chains — India is simultaneously advocating multilaterally and building resilience unilaterally.
Global Critical Minerals Governance — Competing Frameworks
Beyond BRICS, several parallel international arrangements exist to secure critical mineral supply chains, reflecting broader geopolitical competition over resource security.
Key Details
- The Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), launched in 2022 and led by the United States along with partners including the EU, Japan, and India, aims to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from single-country dependence
- The Quad (India, US, Japan, Australia) has separately discussed critical-mineral cooperation as part of its supply-chain resilience agenda
- BRICS's New Delhi Declaration language on "fair" and "just" supply chains represents a competing framing, emphasising developing-country access rather than aligning with any single bloc
- India's participation in both BRICS-led and Western-led (MSP, Quad) critical-mineral initiatives illustrates its strategy of multi-alignment across geopolitical blocs
The Prime Minister's warning against weaponisation, delivered at BRICS, situates India as advocating a middle path — seeking diversified, rules-based mineral supply chains through multiple platforms simultaneously rather than exclusive alignment with one bloc.
- China's share of global rare-earth magnet processing capacity: over 90%
- National Critical Mineral Mission: approved January 2025, outlay ~₹34,300 crore over seven years (2024-25 to 2030-31)
- Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act: 2023 (introduced "critical and strategic minerals" category)
- Minerals Security Partnership: launched 2022, US-led, India is a participant
- BRICS full membership as of the 2026 summit: 11 countries (post-2024 and 2025 expansions)