Why is this topic important for UPSC Prelims 2024?

Because it has been in news many times recently and UPSC has been asking questions on critical minerals in UPSC prelims exams for last few years.

The Ministry of Mines, Government of India recently unveiled the first-ever report on “Critical Minerals for India” prepared by an expert team constituted by the Ministry of Mines.(2023)

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Definition

Critical minerals are those minerals which are essential for economic development and national security, the lack of availability of these minerals or even concentration of existence,extraction or processing of these minerals in few geographical locations may lead to supply chain vulnerability and disruption.

Critical Minerals for India

Expert Committe under Ministry of Mines has identified a set of 30 critical minerals for India.

These are:

Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.

Image below mentions 30 critical minerals identified by India.

Other Important Information from Current Affairs Related to Critical Minerals

KABIL INDIA

Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), is a Joint Venture Company among the three Government Enterprises: National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration & Consultancy Limited (MECL), in the ratio of 40:30:30, under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, Government of India, formed to ensure supply side assurance of critical and strategic minerals and mineral security of the nation. KABIL was Incorporated on 08.08.2019 under the companies Act 2013.

Mandate of KABIL is to identify, explore, acquire, develop, mine, process, procure strategic minerals outside India for suppling primarily to India, to meet domestic requirements due to its non or meagre availability in the country and giving a big push to Make in India.

Mineral Security Partnership (MSP):

India became a partner in the MSP, a strategic grouping led by the United States, to secure and build resilient critical mineral supply chains. The MSP aims to accelerate the development of diverse and sustainable critical mineral supply chains globally, adhering to environmental, social, and governance standards.

Mineral Security Partnership, also called Critical Minerals Alliance

The Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) was announced in June 2022 by the US to strengthen critical mineral supply chains. It is also known as the critical minerals alliance.

The goal of the MSP is to ensure that critical minerals are being “produced, processed, and recycled in a manner that supports the ability of countries to realize the full economic development benefit of their geological endowments.”
Specifically, the MSP focuses on critical minerals that are inputs for electric vehicles and advanced batteries.
Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, and India have joined the MSP

India-Australia Critical Minerals Research Partnership (IACMRP):

This partnership involves Indian and Australian researchers, industry, and government working together on projects to improve and integrate the critical minerals value chains of both countries. It aims to unlock commercial benefits and is set to run over a 3.5-year period.

Lithium Reserves Found in Jammu and Kashmir

The reserves were found in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) estimated an inferred resource of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore during their exploration in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 field seasons.

Applications of Critical Minerals

Critical minerals are classified based on their essential roles in various sectors, illustrating their criticality through examples of usages:

Energy Sector:
- Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, and Graphite: Key components in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage solutions, facilitating the transition to renewable energy.
- Uranium: Used in nuclear reactors as a fuel for generating electricity.
Electronics and Communication:
- Gallium and Indium: Essential for semiconductors in smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices, as well as for LED lights.
- Silver and Gold: Conductive materials used in various electronic components and connectors due to their excellent electrical conductivity.
Defense and Aerospace:
- Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs): Used in high-performance jet engines, missile guidance systems, and space exploration technologies. REEs are crucial for advanced defense systems, including radar and missile guidance systems.
- Titanium: Valued for its strength-to-weight ratio, used in aircraft structures and military hardware.
Manufacturing and Construction:
- Copper: Critical for electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating due to its excellent thermal and electrical conductivity.
- Aluminum (from Bauxite): Used in construction, automotive, and packaging industries due to its lightweight and resistance to corrosion.
Renewable Energy Technologies:
- Silicon: Primary material for manufacturing solar photovoltaic (PV) cells.
- Tellurium: Used in thin-film solar cells and thermoelectric devices for renewable energy applications.
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals:
- Platinum and Palladium: Used in medical devices and equipment, including pacemakers and surgical instruments, as well as in cancer treatment drugs.
Environmental Technologies:
- Rare Earth Elements: Essential for catalytic converters in vehicles, which reduce harmful emissions, and for wind turbines, supporting clean energy production.
Agriculture:
- Phosphate: Critical for the production of fertilizers to support global food production.

Link to Report on Critical Minerals by Ministry of Mines

https://mines.gov.in/admin/storage/app/uploads/649d4212cceb01688027666.pdf

Students are suggested to focus on topics in news related to critical minerals, deep seated minerals, new age energy minerals and rare earth minerals as UPSC has been asking questions in prelims in recent years.

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DEEP SEATED MINERALS

Deep-seated minerals are those that are found deep within the Earth’s crust, typically at depths greater than 300 meters.

These minerals are often of high value and include elements such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, platinum group minerals, and diamonds. The term “deep-seated” reflects their location deep underground, making them more challenging and expensive to explore and mine compared to minerals closer to the surface.

In recent news, India has been focusing on the exploration and mining of deep-seated and critical minerals to reduce import dependencies and address supply chain vulnerabilities. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, was introduced to attract private sector investment in the exploration of these minerals. This legislative move is part of India’s broader strategy to enhance its mining sector, secure supply chains for critical minerals, and support the nation’s economic growth and technological advancements

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