India's Tech & Mineral Blind Spot: Urgent Need for Strategic Focus.
India's neglect of high-tech manufacturing and critical minerals is hindering its economic growth.
Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki
संपादकीय विश्लेषण
The author strongly argues that India's past neglect of high-tech manufacturing and critical minerals is a significant strategic vulnerability, hindering its economic growth and geopolitical aspirations, and calls for urgent policy intervention to address these gaps.
मुख्य तर्क:
- India's economic success in IT services has masked a critical weakness in high-tech manufacturing, leading to a low share in global manufacturing (3%) and high-tech exports (0.5%), making it heavily import-dependent.
- The lack of focus on critical minerals (like lithium, cobalt, rare earths), essential for green technologies, defense, and advanced electronics, creates a strategic vulnerability, especially given China's near-monopoly in their processing and supply.
- To achieve true economic self-reliance, enhance national security, and exert greater geopolitical influence, India must develop a comprehensive strategy for both domestic high-tech manufacturing and securing diversified, resilient supply chains for critical minerals.
प्रतितर्क:
- The article implicitly counters the idea that India's current economic trajectory, heavily reliant on services, is sustainable or sufficient for its long-term strategic goals.
निष्कर्ष
नीतिगत निहितार्थ
The editorial by Dhiraj Nayyar argues that India's economic growth is being hampered by its historical neglect of high-tech manufacturing and critical minerals. While India has excelled in IT services, it lags significantly in hardware and advanced manufacturing, leading to heavy reliance on imports, particularly from China. The article highlights the strategic importance of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, which are essential for green technologies and defense, and where China holds a dominant position.
Nayyar emphasizes that India must develop a comprehensive strategy for both high-tech manufacturing and securing critical mineral supply chains to achieve true economic self-reliance and geopolitical influence. This is a HIGH priority topic for Economy, Science & Technology, and International Relations.
मुख्य तथ्य
India's share of global manufacturing: 3%
China's share of global manufacturing: 28%
India's share of global high-tech exports: 0.5%
China's share of global high-tech exports: 20%
USPSC categories for critical minerals: lithium, cobalt, rare earths
UPSC परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण
Economic implications of import dependence and lack of high-tech manufacturing.
Geopolitical significance of critical minerals and supply chain resilience.
Science & Technology aspects: R&D, green technologies, advanced materials.
Government policies and initiatives: Make in India, PLI schemes, Critical Minerals Act, KABIL.
International Relations: strategic partnerships, trade agreements, resource diplomacy.
दृश्य सामग्री
Global Critical Mineral Supply Chain & India's Strategic Focus (2026)
This map highlights the global distribution of critical mineral resources and processing capabilities, emphasizing China's dominant position and India's recent strategic initiatives to secure its supply chain. It visually represents the 'mineral blind spot' and the geopolitical implications.
Loading interactive map...
और जानकारी
पृष्ठभूमि
नवीनतम घटनाक्रम
Currently, India is facing the dual challenge of boosting its high-tech manufacturing base and ensuring a stable supply of critical minerals. The global geopolitical landscape, characterized by supply chain disruptions (e.g., COVID-19, geopolitical tensions) and a race for green technologies, has amplified the urgency.
Nations like China have established dominance in both critical mineral extraction/processing and high-tech manufacturing, posing a strategic vulnerability for India's economic growth, energy transition, and defense capabilities. Government initiatives like 'Make in India' and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are attempts to address the manufacturing deficit, while efforts are underway to identify and secure critical mineral resources.
बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)
1. Consider the following statements regarding 'Critical Minerals' in the context of India's economic and strategic objectives: 1. Critical minerals are defined primarily by their scarcity in nature and their high demand in traditional industries. 2. Lithium, Cobalt, and Rare Earth Elements are considered critical due to their indispensable role in green technologies and advanced electronics. 3. India's current policy framework aims to achieve complete self-sufficiency in critical mineral extraction and processing within the next five years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: B
Statement 1 is incorrect. Critical minerals are defined not just by scarcity but by their economic importance and the risk of supply disruption. Their demand is primarily driven by modern, high-tech industries, not traditional ones. Statement 2 is correct. Lithium, Cobalt, and Rare Earth Elements are indeed crucial for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, advanced electronics, and defense applications. Statement 3 is incorrect. While India aims for greater self-reliance, achieving 'complete self-sufficiency' in all critical minerals within five years is an unrealistic and overly ambitious goal given the global distribution of these resources and the capital-intensive nature of their extraction and processing. The focus is on diversification, domestic exploration, and international partnerships.
2. With reference to India's efforts in high-tech manufacturing and achieving 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', consider the following statements: 1. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are designed to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence across various sectors. 2. India has historically prioritized the development of hardware manufacturing over IT services, leading to a strong domestic base in electronics and semiconductors. 3. The 'Make in India' initiative primarily focuses on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into low-skill, labor-intensive manufacturing sectors. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: A
Statement 1 is correct. PLI schemes offer incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in India, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing, create jobs, and reduce import dependence in strategic sectors like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles. Statement 2 is incorrect. The editorial explicitly states India's 'historical neglect of high-tech manufacturing' and its significant lag in hardware compared to its excellence in IT services. Statement 3 is incorrect. While 'Make in India' aims to attract FDI, its scope is broad, encompassing various sectors including high-tech manufacturing, defense, and infrastructure, not just low-skill, labor-intensive sectors. It seeks to make India a global manufacturing hub across the spectrum.
Source Articles
India’s inattention to high technology and minerals over decades is showing | The Indian Express
Explained: What are rare earth elements, and why is India keen to join a global alliance to ensure their supply? | Explained News - The Indian Express
What is India’s share in rare earth elements, the backbone of modern technologies? | UPSC Current Affairs News - The Indian Express
India joins US-led critical mineral club, boost likely for EV, electronics | India News - The Indian Express
Critical minerals are a strategic asset – India must not fall behind | The Indian Express