The Quad nations—India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative during the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Washington, D.C (U.S).

Key Highlights

• The initiative aims to enhance cooperation on issues like electronic waste management, the recovery and re-processing of critical minerals, and ensuring reliable global supply chains.
• The goal is to diversify and secure supply chains for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, and graphite, essential for electric vehicles (EVs), drones, and battery storage.
• This initiative comes as a response to concerns over China’s dominant role in the global critical minerals supply chain and its coercive tactics, including price manipulation and export restrictions. 

Other Initiatives

• Ports of the Future Partnership: The Quad will formally also launch the Ports of the Future Partnership in October 2025, hosting a conference in Mumbai to discuss strengthening regional connectivity and trade, complementing the critical minerals initiative.

Need for the Initiative

• China’s Dominance:  China controls significant stages of critical mineral production, refining, and processing, dominating 68% of the world’s cobalt, 65% of nickel, and 60% of lithium production.
  • This monopoly exposes global industries to risks related to supply chain disruptions.
• Economic and National Security Risks: China’s non-market policies, such as limiting export quantities and manipulating prices, create vulnerabilities. 
  • In 2024, China weaponized its control over critical minerals by banning exports of gallium and germanium to the US, escalating geopolitical tensions.
• Technological and Industrial Growth: Critical minerals are vital for technologies like electric vehicles, drones, and renewable energy storage. 
  • As these technologies advance, stable mineral supplies are crucial for sustained economic growth and technological innovation.

Other Initiatives of India to Secure Critical Mineral Supply

India is proactive in securing a reliable supply of critical minerals through both national and international efforts:

• Bilateral and Multilateral Partnerships: India has been strengthening its ties with countries rich in critical minerals like Australia, Canada, and African nations through trade agreements and resource-sharing pacts. 
  • In 2023, India joined the US-led Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) to diversify mineral sources. 
• Domestic Exploration and Mining: India is investing in the domestic mining of critical minerals, including lithium and nickel. 
• • The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) launched in 2025 aims to build self-reliance in the critical mineral sector. 
  • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will oversee 1,200 exploration projects from 2024-31.
• Strategic Stockpiling: India is building strategic reserves of key minerals to safeguard against supply chain disruptions. 
  • The Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), a joint venture company, is working to secure mineral supplies by facilitating acquisitions in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.
    
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): India encourages collaboration between the public and private sectors to develop mining technologies, recycle electronic waste, and reprocess critical minerals (Union Budget-2025-26). 
  • These efforts aim to bolster domestic capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign sources.

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