India–UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory:
India and the UK launched the India–UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) in New Delhi to strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains for critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
- The GSCO is a tripartite joint initiative spearheaded by TEXMiN (Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation at IIT-ISM Dhanbad), the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, and the University of Cambridge.
- The initiative stems from the India–UK Technology Security Initiative. GSCO was announced during the India–UK Prime Ministers’ bilateral engagement in October 2025 and subsequently formalised through a Research Collaboration Agreement signed in March 2026.
- The GSCO functions as a data-driven digital platform dedicated to monitoring global critical mineral flows, mapping supply risks, anticipating market disruptions, and providing strategic intelligence to policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers.
- Supports the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) by providing data for mineral exploration, processing, and recycling initiatives.
- Reduces supply chain vulnerabilities by helping India monitor and mitigate risks arising from the concentration of critical mineral processing in a few countries, particularly China.
- Facilitates the clean energy transition by ensuring secure access to key minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, essential for EVs, battery storage, and renewable energy technologies.
