<h2 class="ql-align-center">CRITICAL MINERALS</h2>&nbsp;<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Context: Recently China has restricted the export of a key critical mineral which are used in military equipment like missiles and ammunition.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">About: Minerals which are critical and vital for the development of materials for defence, aerospace, nuclear, and space applications</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Central Govt. Initiatives:</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Classified some minerals as ‘critical’ by amending the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act of 1957</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Identified in ‘Critical Minerals for India’ report 30 critical minerals, which are: Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">In the Budget 2024, Critical Mineral Mission (CMM) has been announced to give a boost to India‘s critical minerals Sector</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) is exploring opportunities to acquire critical mineral assets in countries like Australia, Argentina, and Chile</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Important critical minerals and their applications:</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Antimony– used in strategic sectors such as defence, for military equipment such as missiles, infrared sensors, flares, ammunition, and even nuclear weapons;</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Graphite and Natural Flake Graphite– used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, fuel cells, nuclear reactors, and energy storage systems;</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Gallium– used in semiconductors, LEDs, and solar panels;</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Germanium– used in fibre optics, infrared optics, computer chips, and solar cells</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Lithium– essential for rechargeable batteries in EVs, laptops, and smartphones</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Cobalt– used in batteries, superalloys, and catalysts</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sunyaias.com/subscription-details/current-affairs-batch-2026-prelims-mains" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://sunyaias-resources.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/content/c58e1031-9566-11f0-be51-f7ac9f777531.jpeg"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Telegram Link: <a href="https://t.me/sunyaias_CA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192);">https://t.me/sunyaias_CA</a>&nbsp;#CriticalMinerals #India #Defence #Aerospace #Nuclear #SpaceApplications #MineralSecurity #KABIL #CriticalMineralMission#Economy#UPSC2026 #UPSCPreparation #UPSCExam #UPSC_Prelims_2026 #CurrentAffairs #Current_Affairs_for_UPSC_Prelims #DailyCurrentAffairs #CA_for_Govt_Exams #The_Hindu_News #The_hindu_Current_Affairs #Sunya_IAS #Best_UPSC_Coaching #Best_Current_Affairs #CivilServices

Recently China has restricted the export of a key critical mineral which are used in military equipment like missiles and ammunition.

CRITICAL MINERALS (CM)