Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to Secure Supply Chains
Why in the news
Foreign ministers of the four Quad nations launched a joint plan to make critical mineral supply safer, driven by worries about China’s dominance.
Key facts
- Members: India, the US, Japan, Australia.
- Uses at stake: EVs, electronics, semiconductors and defence.
- Focus: e-waste recycling, rare earth reprocessing, private-sector investment.
The China factor
- Rare earths like neodymium, dysprosium, terbium power EV motors, fighter jet engines and chips.
- China leads in processing and refining, and has used export curbs on gallium, germanium and some heavy rare earths.
- India’s EV makers faced shortages as rare earth magnet approvals stalled; firms were also steered to import whole motor assemblies.
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)
- Budget ₹16,300 crore.
- Targets: domestic exploration, overseas assets, processing R&D, recycling; funding sought via RISE and other multilateral platforms.
Exam angle
- Grouping: Quad; related terms: rare earths, gallium, germanium, NCMM.