India and the United Kingdom launched the India-UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory in New Delhi on June 9, 2026. Jointly inaugurated by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the platform is designed to secure bilateral access to minerals vital for clean energy, electronics, and electric mobility. This digital initiative marks a major step in shielding both economies from global supply shocks, market monopolies, and logistical choke points.
Institutional Collaboration and Origin
The Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) is the result of a tripartite academic and research partnership. The key institutional partners are the Technology Innovation in Exploration and Mining Foundation (TEXMiN), which is based at the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, and the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge. This collaboration brings together specialized expertise in resource exploration, mineral processing, and industrial supply chain systems.
The development of the platform follows a series of bilateral engagements between India and the United Kingdom. The project was initially conceived during high-level talks between the prime ministers of both nations in October 2025. It was later formalized through a Research Collaboration Agreement signed in March 2026, paving the way for the development and official launch of the observatory in New Delhi.
Operational Mandate and Core Functions
The observatory functions as an automated digital monitoring platform designed to map global critical mineral flows in real time. It utilizes advanced data science, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), combined with satellite-based remote sensing to track minerals from their extraction points to their final industrial applications. By analyzing massive data sets, the observatory identifies supply chain vulnerabilities, market bottlenecks, and geopolitical events that could affect resource availability.
A key objective of the platform is to provide evidence-based insights to support policy decisions. It helps government officials, industrial stakeholders, and researchers anticipate logistical chokepoints and export restrictions. Additionally, the collaboration focuses on the entire lifecycle of critical minerals. It promotes research and innovation in refining techniques, mineral processing, and circular economy frameworks, which emphasize the recycling and reuse of minerals from end-of-life products to decrease primary mining dependence.
Strategic Alignment and Policy Context
The observatory operates under the broader framework of the India-UK Technology Security Initiative (TSI), which was launched in July 2024 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in key sectors like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and semiconductors. The initiative places significant emphasis on critical minerals due to their importance in manufacturing transition technologies. By building a shared information tool, both countries aim to minimize their vulnerability to supply disruptions caused by concentrated processing capabilities and mining monopolies in countries like China, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Domestically, the observatory supports India’s National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which received cabinet approval in January 2025 with a total budget of ₹34,300 crore spanning seven years. The mission was designed to establish a self-reliant supply chain for the 30 critical minerals identified by the Indian government as essential for economic development and national security. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, had previously designated 24 of these minerals under a separate schedule to empower the central government to auction mining leases, driving domestic exploration and international joint ventures.
Nodal Agencies and Institutional Roles
The operationalization of the observatory is led by two premier academic and research organizations. TEXMiN was established as a Section-8 non-profit company under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), which is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Government of India. Headquartered at the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, TEXMiN was upgraded to a Technology Translation Research Park (TTRP), making it one of the few designated centers in India focused on transitioning research into commercial mining applications.
The Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge complements this infrastructure by contributing expertise in manufacturing systems, global logistics, and supply chain design. The institute conducts international studies on resource flow dynamics and supply chain security. Together, these organizations will co-host research initiatives, share technical resources, and train personnel to build a skilled workforce capable of analyzing critical mineral supply vulnerability and developing alternative sourcing networks.
Key Takeaways
- The Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) was launched in New Delhi on June 9, 2026, to monitor and secure critical mineral supply chains.
- The observatory is developed as a joint research initiative between the University of Cambridge and TEXMiN, which is located at the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad.
- The platform operates under the bilateral India-UK Technology Security Initiative (TSI), which was launched in July 2024 to foster collaboration in key strategic technologies.
- TEXMiN was established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), a flagship program of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- The observatory aligns with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which was approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025 with an outlay of ₹34,300 crore over seven years.
- The Indian government has officially identified 30 critical minerals as vital for economic development, national defense, and clean energy transition.
