How Rare Earths became the new battleground in US-China rivalry and where India fits in

As tensions rise between Washington and Beijing, a new front has emerged in the global power struggle: control over rare earth materials. These minerals, often invisible in everyday life, are the foundation of modern technology, from smartphones and electric vehicles to missiles and satellites.

Now, with China tightening its grip on rare earth exports, countries are scrambling to secure their own supplies. India is preparing to launch a national stockpile. The United States is spending billions to build reserves. And the world is beginning to realise that rare earths could become to the 21st century what oil was to the 20th.

India’s strategic push

The Indian government is preparing to unveil the National Critical Mineral Stockpile (NCMS), a new scheme to secure rare earth supplies for d