Pax Silica – An Overview

  • Nature: US‑led coalition of nine countries aimed at building a secure, resilient, innovation‑driven silicon and Artificial Intelligence (AI) supply‑chain ecosystem.
  • Inaugural Summit: Washington, D.C., December 2025.
  • Core Objective: Reduce coercive dependence on a single country (primarily China), protect AI‑critical materials, and enable allied nations to develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.
  • Key Participating Nations: United States, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Australia.
  • Major Corporate Stakeholders: Sony, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Samsung, SK Hynix, Temasek, DeepMind, MGX, Rio Tinto, ASML.
  • Core Commitments: Joint projects on critical minerals, semiconductor design, fabrication & packaging, compute infrastructure, and energy‑grid resilience; safeguarding sensitive technologies from “countries of concern”.

Why India Was Initially Excluded

  • Technology Gap: India currently lacks the cutting‑edge silicon and AI technologies prioritized by Pax Silica.
  • Mineral Endowment: India is not a major repository of the critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, rare‑earths) that dominate the supply chain.
  • Precedent: India joined the US‑led Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2022, a year after its launch, indicating a pathway for future inclusion.

India’s Strategic Initiatives

1. India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) – 2021

  • Budget: USD 10 billion (≈ ₹1.6 trillion).
  • Projects Approved: 10, covering fabrication, packaging, and design.
  • Goal: Build an indigenous semiconductor ecosystem.

2. IndiaAI Mission – 2024

  • Budget: ₹10,372 crore.
  • Focus: Indigenous Large Language Models (LLMs) and domestic AI capacity.
  • Infrastructure: GPU count expanded to 34,333, nearly double the previous level.
  • Outcome: Shared cloud‑based compute platform for AI training and inference.

3. National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)

  • Objective: Achieve self‑reliance in critical minerals for high‑tech, clean‑energy, and defence sectors.
  • Scope: Exploration, mining, processing, recycling, overseas asset acquisition, mineral parks, and a Centre of Excellence.

4. Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)

  • US Initiative: Strengthens critical‑mineral supply chains through production, processing, and recycling.
  • India’s Role: Complements NCMM and overseas acquisitions (e.g., KABIL), bolstering India’s position in the global race for critical minerals.

Global Context

  • China’s Dominance: Over 60 % of global lithium, cobalt, and rare‑earth refining.
  • Supply‑Chain Disruptions: Recent Chinese restrictions on rare‑earth magnets highlighted vulnerabilities.
  • Diversification Drive: Nations are accelerating efforts to reduce reliance on China, creating opportunities for India.

Significance for India

  • Strategic Autonomy: Reducing dependence on a single supplier enhances national security.
  • Economic Growth: Indigenous semiconductor and AI capabilities can drive manufacturing, exports, and job creation.
  • Geopolitical Leverage: Participation in Pax Silica would deepen India’s ties with key allies and strengthen its standing in the Indo‑Pacific.

Related Constitutional/Legal Provisions

  • Article 246 & 253: Union’s competence over foreign affairs and international agreements.
  • National Mineral Policy (2008, revised 2019): Provides the legal framework for mineral exploration and exploitation.
  • Strategic Goods (Control) Act, 2017: Governs export‑import of critical technologies and minerals.

FAQs

  1. What is Pax Silica? A US‑led coalition of nine countries focused on securing the silicon and AI supply chain.
  2. Which countries are members? Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the United States.
  3. What are India’s key initiatives? India Semiconductor Mission, IndiaAI Mission, National Critical Mineral Mission, and participation in the Minerals Security Partnership.

Prepared for UPSC Civil Services Examination – both Prelims and Mains.