Context:
Recently, India has begun negotiations with the UK to enhance collaboration on critical minerals under the new UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI).
UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI):
- A collaborative framework established between the United Kingdom and India to enhance technological security and cooperation between the two nations.
- Focus area – Collaboration in critical minerals, semiconductors, AI, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and advanced materials.
- Objective – To reduce dependency on China and lead the global critical minerals supply chain.
- Other features –
- Possible establishment of a Critical Minerals Recycling Centre in India focusing on advanced military waste recycling.
- UK-India “Critical Minerals” community to foster knowledge exchange among academics, innovators, and industry leaders.
- Partnership between the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to enhance exploration methods and offshore mining technology development.
- Opportunities for co-developing technologies and exchanging scientific knowledge in offshore mining.
India’s major partnerships in the critical minerals sector:
- US-led Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) for securing critical mineral supply chains.
- India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership focusing on exploration and development.
Source: Business Standard
Previous Year Question
With reference to India’s projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:
1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. The Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Golden Quadrilateral Project network connects Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, and Silchar in the east to Porbandar in the west. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Kolkata with Kunming in China. Hence, none of the statements are correct.
