What Happened
- India formally joined the US-led Pax Silica coalition on 20 February 2026, signing the agreement at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
- The declaration was signed by Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg.
- Pax Silica is a US Department of State initiative launched in December 2025 to build resilient supply chains for advanced technologies: semiconductors, AI infrastructure, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and related logistics and data systems.
- India became the 11th member of the coalition; other members include the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Israel, Qatar, the UAE, and Greece.
- The coalition seeks to coordinate across the "silicon stack" — the full technology supply chain from critical mineral mining to semiconductor fabrication, chip design, and AI infrastructure — reducing dependence on adversary nations.
Static Topic Bridges
Critical Minerals: Strategic Importance and Supply Chain Risks
Critical minerals are raw materials essential for modern technology, clean energy, and defence manufacturing, for which supply is geographically concentrated and substitution is difficult. The list includes rare earth elements (neodymium, dysprosium, lanthanum), lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, gallium, germanium, and silicon. China dominates the mining and processing of most of these materials — controlling approximately 60% of global lithium processing, 85% of rare earth processing, 80% of gallium, and 90% of germanium. This concentration creates strategic vulnerability for countries dependent on Chinese supply chains for semiconductors, electric vehicles, and defence electronics.
- China controls approximately 85–90% of global rare earth element processing
- China controls 70–80% of cobalt refining (cobalt mined primarily in DRC)
- India's National Critical Mineral Mission: launched January 2025, outlay ₹16,300 crore
- India's geological survey has identified deposits of lithium (J&K), cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earths
- Critical minerals are listed under India's Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957 as amended
Connection to this news: Pax Silica directly responds to the strategic risk of China's dominance over critical mineral supply chains. India's membership signals a commitment to align its mineral extraction and processing ambitions with a US-led coalition, potentially unlocking technology transfer, investment, and preferential market access for India's own critical mineral reserves.
Semiconductor Supply Chain and India's Semiconductor Mission
Semiconductors (computer chips) are the foundational components of all digital technology — from smartphones and computers to defence systems and AI accelerators. The global semiconductor supply chain is characterised by extreme geographic concentration: Taiwan (TSMC) dominates advanced chip fabrication, while design is led by US companies (Nvidia, Qualcomm, Intel) and equipment by ASML (Netherlands). India currently has no advanced semiconductor fabrication facility but is building its capabilities under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) launched in 2021 with a $10 billion outlay.
- India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): launched 2021, outlay approximately $10 billion (₹76,000 crore)
- First fab investment: Tata Electronics (in partnership with PSMC, Taiwan) in Dholera, Gujarat
- ITES-Micron partnership: ATMP (Assembly, Test, Marking & Packaging) unit in Sanand, Gujarat
- Joining Pax Silica gives India access to US CHIPS Act-aligned partnership frameworks and technology-sharing with allied nations
- US CHIPS and Science Act (2022): $52 billion to rebuild US semiconductor manufacturing
Connection to this news: India's membership in Pax Silica aligns with the India Semiconductor Mission's goals by embedding India in a US-led technology alliance that coordinates chip design, fabrication, and packaging capabilities across trusted nations — reducing the risk that India's semiconductor ecosystem would depend on Chinese supply chains.
India's Approach to Technology Multilateralism: Quad, I2U2, and Now Pax Silica
India has increasingly engaged in technology-focused minilateral and plurilateral frameworks while maintaining its traditional non-alignment posture. The Quad (US, Japan, Australia, India) includes a Critical and Emerging Technologies Working Group. The I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE, USA) focuses on food, water, health, space, transport, and clean energy. The Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), launched in 2022, includes India among 14 partners seeking to secure critical mineral supply chains. Pax Silica is the newest and most explicitly technology-supply-chain-focused framework India has joined.
- Quad Critical and Emerging Technologies Working Group: semiconductor supply chain, standards, and talent mobility
- Minerals Security Partnership (MSP): 14 partners including India, US, EU, Japan, South Korea, Australia
- I2U2 launched: July 2022 (Abraham Accords-linked quadrilateral)
- Pax Silica launched: December 2025 (US Department of State); India joined February 2026
- Pax Silica membership at India's entry: 11 nations (including G7 members, Gulf states, Israel, Singapore)
Connection to this news: India's joining of Pax Silica reflects a strategic shift from reactive engagement to proactive leadership in shaping technology governance frameworks — a significant evolution in India's approach to "strategic autonomy" that now includes active membership in US-aligned supply chain coalitions.
Key Facts & Data
- Pax Silica launched: December 2025 (US Department of State initiative)
- India joined: 20 February 2026 (AI Impact Summit, New Delhi)
- India's signing officials: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (Electronics & IT) and US Under Secretary Jacob Helberg
- Total Pax Silica members at India's entry: 11 nations (US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, UK, Singapore, Israel, Qatar, UAE, Greece, India)
- Coalition focus: semiconductors, AI infrastructure, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, logistics, data systems
- China's share of rare earth processing: approximately 85–90%
- China's share of gallium production: approximately 80%; germanium: approximately 90%
- India Semiconductor Mission outlay: approximately $10 billion (₹76,000 crore)
- National Critical Mineral Mission: launched January 2025, outlay ₹16,300 crore
- Minerals Security Partnership (MSP): 14 partners including India (launched 2022)