UPSC Notes

Critical Minerals

PYQs

Articles

Momentum

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

UPSC cares about critical minerals due to their strategic importance for India's economic growth, national security, and its commitment to a clean energy transition. Issues such as supply chain resilience, resource diplomacy, environmental impacts of mining, and technological advancements in exploration and processing are frequently examined.

Critical minerals are essential raw materials for modern technologies, clean energy transitions, and national security, characterized by high supply risk and significant economic importance. Their scarcity, concentrated global supply chains, and demand for advanced industries make them geopolitically significant.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Strategic Importance

Vital for defense, aerospace, digital technologies, and high-tech manufacturing.

Clean Energy Transition

Indispensable components for renewable energy technologies (e.g., solar panels, wind turbines) and electric vehicles.

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Global supply chains are often concentrated in a few countries, leading to potential disruptions and geopolitical leverage.

International Cooperation

Nations are increasingly collaborating to secure and diversify critical mineral supply chains.

Economic & Strategic Importance

Essential for high-tech industries (e.g., semiconductors, EVs, defense) and national security.

Supply Chain Vulnerability

Supply chains are often concentrated in a few countries, leading to geopolitical risks and potential disruptions.

Lack of Substitutes

Many critical applications lack viable substitutes, making reliable supply crucial.

Global Focus

Governments worldwide are identifying and securing domestic and diversified sources to reduce reliance on single suppliers.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

Type	Reference
Conceptual area	Resource Security
Conceptual area	Economic Development
Conceptual area	International Relations
Conceptual area	Environmental Sustainability
Conceptual area	Science & Technology
Conceptual area	Economy
Conceptual area	Indian Economy
Conceptual area	Geopolitics & International Conflicts

Reference table

Institutions & roles

Body	Role
Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO)	Monitors and analyses global critical mineral supply chains, facilitates cooperation
Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN), Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad	Jointly operates gsco
University of Cambridge	Jointly operates gsco
Ministry of Mines (India)	Formulates policies, identifies critical minerals
Geological Survey of India (GSI)	Explores and assesses mineral resources
Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL)	Facilitates overseas acquisition of critical minerals
G20	Facilitates cooperation

Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Quick revision

Minerals vital for high-tech industries and clean energy technologies.
Supply chains are often concentrated, creating geopolitical and economic risks.
India and the U.K. launched the GSCO for improved cooperation and tech-sharing.
The observatory aims to strengthen critical mineral supply chains and support clean energy transitions.
Jointly operated by TEXMiN (IIT ISM Dhanbad) and the University of Cambridge.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists : | List I (BIMSTEC Centre/Establishment) | List II (Location) | |---|-...

International RelationsOpen question

2025Statement-based questions, Factual recall

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 cri...

EconomyOpen question

2024Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its p...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following statements: Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II ...

GeographyOpen question

2024Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its p...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following statements: Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II ...

GeographyOpen question

2023Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following pairs : Regions : often Reason for being in news 1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan 2. Nagorno-Karabakh : In...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following statements : Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Techn...

International RelationsOpen question

2023Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following pairs : Regions : often Reason for being in news 1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan 2. Nagorno-Karabakh : In...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following statements : Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Techn...

International RelationsOpen question

2022Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world in recent years. 2. Vietnam is led by a multi-par...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following pairs: Country - Important reason for being in the news recently 1. Chad – Setting up of permanent military base by China. 2. Guin...

International RelationsOpen question

2022Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world in recent years. 2. Vietnam is led by a multi-par...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following pairs: Country - Important reason for being in the news recently 1. Chad – Setting up of permanent military base by China. 2. Guin...

International RelationsOpen question

2019Factual recall, Policy measures

Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the follow...

International RelationsOpen question

2016Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

International RelationsOpen question

Topic timeline

Resource SecurityEconomic DevelopmentInternational RelationsEnvironmental Sustainability

Prelims 2016· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

Critical Minerals

Overview

Key facts

Reference table

Reference table

Overview

Quick revision

High-confidence PYQs

Topic timeline

Related topics

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Critical Minerals

Editorial & Review Process