India and the United Kingdom on Thursday jointly launched the India–UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO), a strategic initiative aimed at improving monitoring, intelligence gathering and risk assessment across global critical mineral supply chains, which are increasingly vital for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.
The observatory was formally inaugurated by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and his counterpart Yvette Cooper, marking another step in the expanding India-UK partnership focused on critical minerals, technology security and supply chain resilience.
Addressing the launch event, Union Minister Kishan Reddy described critical minerals as the backbone of modern industrial economies and a key enabler of India’s clean energy transition. He said the observatory would enhance India’s ability to track developments across global mineral supply chains, support evidence-based policymaking and contribute to the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which aims to secure long-term access to strategic mineral resources.
Reddy noted that the initiative reflects India’s broader strategy of building resilient and diversified mineral value chains through international partnerships with trusted countries. According to the minister, improved intelligence and supply chain visibility will help policymakers anticipate disruptions, assess risks and make informed investment decisions.
Speaking at the event, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted the growing importance of cooperation between democratic economies in securing critical resources. She said resilient and sustainable critical mineral supply chains are essential for supporting industrial growth, energy security and technological innovation in both countries.
Broader framework
Cooper stressed that enhanced information-sharing and collaboration could benefit not only India and the UK but also contribute to greater stability in global supply chains. She added that the partnership could provide a framework for broader cooperation across mining, processing, technology development and related strategic sectors.
The observatory has been developed jointly by TEXMiN and University of Cambridge. TEXMiN, a technology translational research park established by India’s Department of Science and Technology at Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, will work with Cambridge researchers to build and operate the data-driven platform.
The collaboration was first announced during bilateral discussions between the Indian and UK Prime Ministers in October 2025 and was formally institutionalised through a research collaboration agreement signed in March 2026.
Real-time monitoring of supply chain
According to officials, the GSCO platform will provide real-time monitoring of global critical mineral supply chains, track market developments, identify potential disruptions and supply vulnerabilities, and generate actionable intelligence for governments, businesses and research institutions. The platform is also expected to support strategic planning and investment decisions across sectors dependent on critical mineral availability.
The launch event was attended by senior officials from India’s Ministry of Mines and Ministry of External Affairs, representatives of the Indian and British diplomatic missions, industry stakeholders, academics and researchers from both countries.
Speaking during the programme, Sukumar Mishra said the initiative aligns with both India’s National Critical Mineral Mission and the India–UK Technology Security Initiative, strengthening cooperation in areas that are becoming increasingly important for economic and strategic security.
An interactive demonstration of the observatory was jointly presented by TEXMiN and the University of Cambridge, showcasing how the platform can help track supply chains, identify emerging risks and support more resilient and sustainable sourcing strategies.