The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals: India’s Strategic Positioning in the Global Supply Chain Reconfiguration

Abstract

The reconfiguration of global supply chains for critical minerals has emerged as one of the defining geopolitical issues of the twenty-first century. As the clean energy transition, digital infrastructure expansion, and defense modernization intensify demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and other critical raw materials, governments are recasting their economic, diplomatic, and strategic policies to secure access to these resources. India, with its growing energy needs, ambitious electric vehicle targets, expanding semiconductor ambitions, and strategic concerns regarding Chinese supply chain dominance, has actively repositioned itself in this evolving landscape. This article examines the geopolitics of critical minerals through the lens of India’s strategic positioning in the post-2020 supply chain reconfiguration. Drawing on a critical literature review methodology and theoretical frameworks from international political economy, geo-economics, and strategic resource studies, the study analyses peer-reviewed scholarship, government policy documents, multilateral initiatives, and industry reports published between 2018 and 2025. The analysis identifies four pillars of India’s emerging critical minerals strategy: domestic exploration and production through revised mining frameworks; strategic overseas asset acquisition through Khanij Bidesh India Limited and bilateral partnerships; participation in plurilateral initiatives including the Mineral Security Partnership and the Quad; and demand-side measures including recycling, substitution, and the development of secondary sources. The study draws on resource statecraft, supply chain political economy, and Indian foreign policy scholarship. Findings indicate that India is moving toward a more coordinated multi-pillar approach, while facing significant challenges including limited domestic resources, slow mining sector reform, financing constraints, and the geopolitical complexity of partnerships in mineral-rich regions.