{"id":2352,"date":"2025-10-16T09:36:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T09:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=2352"},"modified":"2025-10-21T09:07:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T09:07:20","slug":"current-affairs-16th-october-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2025\/10\/16\/current-affairs-16th-october-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 16th October 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. Critical Minerals for India\u2019s Clean Energy Ambitions<\/u><\/strong><\/h1>\n

GS Paper III \u2013 Indian Economy & Environment: Infrastructure (Energy), Resource Mobilization, Growth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

CONTEXT:<\/strong>\u00a0India’s ambitious clean energy transition, targeting 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, is heavily dependent on a stable supply of\u00a0Critical Minerals<\/strong>, making their sourcing the pivotal ‘critical factor’ for success.<\/p>\n

Key Data Points & Pre-Pointers:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Import Dependency:<\/strong>\u00a0India is\u00a0100% dependent<\/strong>\u00a0on imports for Lithium and Cobalt, and about\u00a093%<\/strong>\u00a0for Copper.<\/li>\n
  • China’s Dominance:<\/strong>\u00a0China controls\u00a0~100%<\/strong>\u00a0of Rare Earth Elements (REE) processing,\u00a0~80%<\/strong>\u00a0of global solar module manufacturing, and\u00a0~77%<\/strong>\u00a0of battery cell production capacity.<\/li>\n
  • Projected Demand (IEA):<\/strong>\u00a0Global demand for critical minerals is set to\u00a0increase by 3.5x by 2030<\/strong>, with Lithium demand alone projected to rise\u00a0over 40-fold<\/strong>\u00a0by 2040 to meet climate targets.<\/li>\n
  • Domestic Reserves:<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a05.9 million-tonne lithium reserve<\/strong>\u00a0discovered in Reasi, J&K (2023) is a positive step, but extraction and processing remain long-term challenges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>Why are they Critical for India?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Solar PV & Wind:<\/strong>\u00a0Silicon, Copper, and REEs are vital for manufacturing photovoltaic cells and permanent magnets in wind turbines.<\/li>\n
    • Energy Storage:<\/strong>\u00a0Lithium, Cobalt, and Nickel are the backbone of Lithium-ion batteries, crucial for grid stability and electric vehicles (EVs). India’s\u00a0Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) PLI scheme<\/strong>\u00a0is directly linked to securing these minerals.<\/li>\n
    • Strategic Independence:<\/strong>\u00a0Over-reliance on a single country (China) creates a strategic vulnerability for India’s energy security and its\u00a0‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’<\/strong>\u00a0(Self-reliant India) mission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \u00a0<\/strong>Government Initiatives & The Road Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL):<\/strong>\u00a0A joint venture (by NALCO, HCL, and MECL) to scout and secure mineral assets abroad. Its first major deal was for\u00a0lithium blocks in Argentina<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
      • Critical Minerals List:<\/strong>\u00a0India’s first list identifies\u00a030 critical minerals<\/strong>\u00a0for strategic focus.<\/li>\n
      • Auction of Blocks:<\/strong>\u00a0The government has initiated the auction of\u00a020 critical mineral blocks<\/strong>, including lithium and REEs.<\/li>\n
      • The Road Ahead:<\/strong>\u00a0The focus must be on\u00a0boosting exploration<\/strong>\u00a0via PPPs,\u00a0investing in R&D<\/strong>\u00a0for recycling and extraction technologies,\u00a0diversifying imports<\/strong>\u00a0through partnerships (e.g., with Australia under the\u00a0Critical Minerals Investment Partnership<\/strong>), and promoting a\u00a0circular economy<\/strong>\u00a0for Li-ion batteries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

         <\/p>\n

        2. The Future of the IMEC<\/u><\/strong><\/h1>\n

        GS Paper II \u2013 International Relations: Bilateral & Global Groupings, India & its Neighborhood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

        CONTEXT:<\/strong>\u00a0The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the\u00a0G20 Summit in 2023<\/strong>, is a visionary project whose future is now clouded by geopolitical tensions, particularly the\u00a0Israel-Hamas conflict<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/strong>Key Data Points & Pre-Pointers:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Announcement:<\/strong>\u00a0Launched on the sidelines of the\u00a0G20 New Delhi Summit (Sept 2023)<\/strong>\u00a0by a partnership including India, the USA, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the EU, France, Germany, and Italy.<\/li>\n
        • Strategic Aim:<\/strong>\u00a0To create a reliable and cost-effective alternative to traditional sea routes, boost economic integration, and counter China’s\u00a0Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        • Economic Potential:<\/strong>\u00a0Aims to\u00a0reduce transit time by 40%<\/strong>\u00a0and increase trade efficiency between India and Europe. A\u00a0Citi GPS report<\/strong>\u00a0estimated it could cut goods transit times between India and Europe by up to 12 days.<\/li>\n
        • Geopolitical Hurdle:<\/strong>\u00a0The core rail link requires diplomatic normalization between\u00a0Saudi Arabia and Israel<\/strong>, a process that was underway but has been frozen due to the war.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          \u00a0<\/strong>Strategic Significance<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Trade & Connectivity:<\/strong>\u00a0A multi-modal corridor (ship-rail-ship) connecting India to Europe via the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel.<\/li>\n
          • Energy Security:<\/strong>\u00a0Would secure energy supplies and facilitate green energy exports (e.g., Hydrogen).<\/li>\n
          • Countering BRI:<\/strong>\u00a0Presents a values-based, transparent alternative to China’s infrastructure diplomacy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            \u00a0<\/strong>Challenges and The Path Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n