Electric scooters, smartphones, satellite internet—none of these work without a hidden layer of power: rare earth elements (REEs). These 17 obscure minerals, mined deep within the Earth, quietly power everything from TikTok and Instagram Reels to national defence systems. While we debate AI ethics and celebrate the Quantum Year, and discuss clean energy transitions, a quieter but consequential contest is unfolding beneath the surface. We were either not aware of or never cared about this topic, because, as an individual, I also didn’t realise its importance until I took a Public Policy course at The Takshashila Institution, which included a policy simulation about the Rare Earth metal problem, a crucial yet rare resource. It’s one where China produces 61% of the globally mined rare earths and dominates 92% of the worldwide total output. The question isn’t whether this is just smart economics, but whether it’s a long-term strategic threat. Despite holding large reserves, India has been watching from the sidelines—a position we may not be able to afford much longer.
[Image Source: https://www.shutterstock.com/search/rare-earth]
There’s little doubt that China engineered its dominance through years of market manipulation, flooding the world with cheap REEs and absorbing the environmental costs other nations wouldn’t. But this monopoly is far from invincible.
When China restricts exports—as it did to Japan in 2010—it triggers global alarm as well as global action. The US, EU, and Australia have since invested heavily to de-risk their supply chains, and India, custodian of the third-largest rare earth reserves, has a moment to seize. So far, however, lethargy persists: over 90% of our rare earths are still imported from China, despite our efforts to promote “Digital India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat“.
“In July, New Delhi moved beyond rhetoric: the Centre announced a ₹1,345 crore incentive scheme to boost domestic production of rare‑earth magnets—covering everything from oxide refining to finished magnets. Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy confirmed that two lead manufacturers, including Mahindra & Mahindra and Uno Minda, have already shown interest. Complementing this, the National Critical Mineral Mission, launched in April, aims to enhance exploration and processing capacities, ensuring that India’s mineral policies align with its digital ambitions.
The real threat isn’t only supply chain risk. It’s the illusion of sovereignty in a digital world where the physical foundations—minerals and materials—remain beyond our control. We are building Indian software and apps on foreign hardware powered by foreign minerals; this is technological dependence by another name. “
[Image Source: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/jun05/d115-1.html]
China’s willingness to weaponise supply chains should be a wake-up call, especially for young Indians who aspire to global leadership. If India wants to own its digital, defence, and green future, it must first own its mineral base.
Yet, there is reason to resist panic. China’s export controls are forcing global diversification, making it harder for China to maintain its dominance in the rare earths market. New refining, recycling, and urban mining technologies are coming up worldwide. For India, this is not just an industrial challenge but a generational opportunity. The “old economy” of minerals is the new economy of semiconductors, batteries, and climate tech. Indian policy and business must invest urgently in R&D, responsible mining, and circular supply chains, turning critical minerals into a platform for both sustainability and sovereignty.
This transformation can’t happen without India’s youth. Start-ups, student-led research, and youth participation in science and foreign policy debates can redefine what resource control looks like in the 21st century. Imagine not only programming for the global stage but also having authority over the essential components that drive those programs.
[Image Source: https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/1293498/view/rare-earth-element-abundance-infographic-chart\]
Critical minerals may lie buried, but their absence threatens to keep India confined as a consumer, rather than a creator, in the global order. The geopolitics of rare earths—much like the geopolitics of oil before them—may spark disruption, but also drive necessary innovation. Whether China’s grip becomes our Achilles’ heel or a catalyst for self-reliance depends on how firmly we grasp the moment beneath our feet.
India should think in the direction of mine, refine it, and lead with it.
Jai Hind!