India’s decision to allow private players to mine lithium, other critical minerals (GS Paper 1, Geography)
Why in news?
- The Government of India recently amended the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act of 1957, allowing private players to mine lithium and other five critical minerals including titanium, beryllium, zirconium, niobium and tantalum.
- These six minerals have been removed from the country’s atomic minerals lists, paving way for private players to mine and empowering the government to auction their reserves going ahead.
Introducing Private players:
- Recently, the Union Ministry of Mines, has released a list of thirty critical minerals that are strategic to the country's economic development and national security.
- This is a decisive step by the central government to allow private players participating in the mining processes, enabling a much needed public-private partnership in the ecosystem.
- Private players will bring more capital and foster use of new and emerging technologies for exploration and mining processes.
Why critical minerals?
- These minerals are in high demand as countries move towards green transition and e-mobility.
- Lithium is one of the most sought-after minerals today across the world, due to its strategic use case in production of batteries needed for electric vehicles.
- India currently is heavily dependent on imports for these minerals.
- The Indian government is now in talks with some Latin American nations, including Chile and Argentina to mine and acquire lithium and some of these minerals, which have applications in the defence and space sectors.
- This will enable India to move towards more enriching public private partnerships, enabling it to be a global manufacturing hub.
Way Forward:
- India should revise its lists of critical minerals every three to five years, while preparing a robust and reliable value chain for each mineral used in development of strategic and emerging technologies.
- The entry of private players will enable more and more exploration and also support India’s ambitions to become a global player in batteries and renewable energy technologies, and move towards self-reliance.
PM conferred with Francehighest award Grand Cross of Legion of Honour
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the first Indian premier to have been conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France's highest civilian and military honour, by French President.
- He received the honour at the Elysee Palace and joined the ranks of other prominent world leaders such as the former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela, King Charles, the then Prince of Wales, former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary General of the United Nations, among others.
Top international awards bestowed by various countries on India’s Prime Minister:
These include
- Order of the Nile by Egypt in June 2023,
- Companion of the Order of Logohu by Papua New Guinea in May 2023,
- Companion of the Order of Fiji in May 2023,
- Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau in May 2023,
- Order of the Druk Gyalpo by Bhutan in 2021,
- Legion of Merit by the US Government in 2020,
- King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahrain in 2019,
- Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin by Maldives in 2019,
- Order of St. Andrew Award from Russia in 2019,
- Order of Zayed Award from the UAE in 2019,
- Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award in 2018,
- State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan from Afghanistan in 2016 and
- the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud from Saudia Arabia in 2016.
What is Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour?
- Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, ‘The Legion of Honour’ is divided into five classes (lower to higher). The colour of the ribbon is red and the badge is a five-armed Maltese asterisk hung on an oak and laurel wreath.
- Although the membership to the award is restricted to French nationals, foreign nationals who serve France or uphold its ideals may also be given a distinction of the Legion.
