India-UK launch Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory

📌 Summary:

• Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy (Coal & Mines) and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper launched the India-UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) in New Delhi
• The GSCO is a data-driven platform to monitor global critical-mineral supply chains, identify supply risks/disruptions and generate market intelligence for evidence-based policymaking
• Critical minerals underpin clean-energy transition, advanced manufacturing, electric mobility and emerging technologies; the Observatory advances the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)
• A joint initiative of TEXMiN (IIT-ISM Dhanbad) and the University of Cambridge; announced at the India-UK PMs engagement (October 2025) and formalised via a Research Collaboration Agreement (March 2026) under the India-UK Technology Security Initiative
• Aims to build resilient, diversified critical-mineral value chains and reduce import dependence

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Economy - resource/supply-chain security, manufacturing and clean-energy inputs, India-UK strategic-tech cooperation.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• GSCO partners: TEXMiN (IIT-ISM Dhanbad) and University of Cambridge
• Linked to National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and India-UK Technology Security Initiative
• Formalised by a Research Collaboration Agreement signed March 2026

🔑 Key Term: Critical Minerals - minerals (e.g., lithium, cobalt, rare earths) essential for high-tech, defence and clean-energy industries, with high supply-disruption risk.