Why India's rare earth pact with Brazil, Pax Silica membership matter

As part of India’s playbook to diversify its critical mineral and rare earth supplies, India on Saturday inked a pact with Brazil.

- Manas Pimpalkhare

The South American country has the second-largest source of rare earth and other critical mineral ores after China. Mint explains the development that came a day after India formally joined the US-led alliance for the critical mineral global supply chain Pax Silica. Brazil is not a part of the alliance.

What are rare earths and critical minerals?

There are 17 rare-earth elements, including samarium, dysprosium, and neodymium, which are metallic. There are also notified minerals seen key to India’s growth and energy transition.

It is difficult to engage in advanced manufacturing and make electric vehicles and their batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and even semiconductors without rare earth elements and critical minerals.