Critical Minerals Observatory: India-UK Launch GSCO in New Delhi
Why in the news
The two governments jointly began the Observatory (GSCO) at New Delhi, a shared intelligence platform that watches worldwide critical-mineral supply chains as they move.
Key facts
- Partners: India and the UK; launched in New Delhi.
- Origin: conceived at the India-UK Prime Ministers’ meeting in October 2025.
- Formal shape: a research-collaboration pact signed in March 2026.
- Umbrellas: the India-UK Technology Security Initiative, and NCMM (National Critical Mineral Mission) on the Indian side.
- Participants: Ministry of Mines, Ministry of External Affairs, the British High Commission, industry and research institutions.
Aims of GSCO
- Secure trusted access to minerals needed for clean energy, electric mobility and advanced manufacturing.
- Serve as an automated shield for both democracies against monopolies, geopolitical supply shocks and shortages.
- Follow minerals in real time from mines to factories.
Features
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Live monitoring | Data-driven architecture that continuously watches global supply chains |
| Risk detection | Predictive models flag emerging risks, logistics bottlenecks, sudden export controls and chokepoints |
| Market intelligence | Profiles of prices, stockpiles and industrial demand trends |
| Policy support | Links data to decisions on trade agreements and strategic stockpiling |
| Research interoperability | Shared research pipelines, data pooling and algorithm validation across Indian and UK institutions |
| Stakeholder forum | Keeps ministries, industry and researchers in regular dialogue |
About critical minerals
- Minerals vital to clean energy, EVs, batteries, electronics, semiconductors, defence and aerospace.
- Called critical because supply is concentrated in a few countries, so disruption has heavy economic and strategic costs.
- Examples: lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, copper, rare earth elements, platinum group metals, tungsten, gallium, germanium and indium.
- India’s 2023 list has 30 critical minerals.
About NCMM
- Government mission for a stable supply of critical minerals.
- Pushes domestic exploration and production, recycling, strategic reserves and overseas assets.
- KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited) is the joint venture that searches for and buys mineral assets overseas.
- Tied to the 2070 net-zero target and the aim to be a global manufacturing and EV hub.
Exam angle
- GSCO is one output of the India-UK Technology Security Initiative, which covers AI, telecom, semiconductors, biotech, quantum and critical minerals.
- Dates: conceived October 2025; formal agreement March 2026.
- Related terms: NCMM, KABIL, rare earth elements.