Can Diplomacy Alone Secure India’s Critical Minerals Future?
India has recognized that critical minerals are a central pillar of its energy security, industrial strategy and geopolitical positioning.
Volatilities in the global oil market over the past two months are a timely reminder of India’s enduring energy vulnerability. With nearly 85 percent of its crude oil demand met through imports in 2025-26, the case for electrification has never been more urgent.
But the transition to clean energy technologies presents a different challenge of securing reliable access to critical raw materials. As India expands its critical minerals partnerships, the discourse must pivot to two key questions: (i) Is the race to secure critical raw materials underpinned by demand certainty for end-use technologies? (ii) How are these mineral partnerships translating to actual projects?