PM flags weaponisation of tech, critical minerals

1. At a Glance

• PM Modi warned at the 18th BRICS Summit (2026), hosted in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam, that weaponisation of technology and critical minerals threatens shared global progress [1][2].
• Statement is a veiled reference to China's dominance (~90%+ of global rare-earth magnet processing capacity) and its export curbs on critical minerals since April 2025 [3].
• Reinforces India's push for diversified, resilient critical-mineral supply chains and technology access — directly linked to the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) [4].
• High UPSC relevance: intersects GS-II (International Relations, BRICS), GS-III (economy, resources, S&T) and current-affairs-driven Prelims facts.

2. Why in the News

• At the 18th BRICS Summit's session on "Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" (Bharat Mandapam, reported in The Hindu, 14 September 2026 edition), PM Modi cautioned against weaponisation of tech and critical minerals and outlined a raft of new BRICS cooperation mechanisms [1][2][6].
• This follows and reiterates a nearly identical warning Modi made at the Rio BRICS Summit in July 2025, where he said "no country should weaponise critical minerals, technology or supply chains" for selfish gain [3][5].

3. Background & Evolution

• July 2025 — Rio de Janeiro BRICS Summit: Modi's first explicit public warning on weaponisation of critical minerals/technology/supply chains, widely read as a dig at China [3][5].
• April 2025 onward — China tightens export controls on rare-earth elements and magnets, triggering global supply-chain anxiety among manufacturing and defence-dependent economies [3].
• January 2025 — Union Cabinet approves the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), outlay ~Rs. 16,300–34,300 crore (reported figures vary across releases) over seven years, plus ~Rs. 18,000 crore expected PSU investment, to build a resilient domestic critical-minerals value chain [4].
• February 2026 — India signs a critical-minerals/rare-earth supply-chain cooperation agreement with Brazil [3].
• September 2026 — 18th BRICS Summit, New Delhi: Modi repeats and expands the warning, alongside launch of several new BRICS cooperative frameworks (see Section 4) [1][2][6].

4. Core Static Facts

Item	Detail
Forum	18th BRICS Summit, 2026, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi [1][2]
Session	"Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" [2]
Key new mechanisms announced	BRICS Integrated Early Warning System (disease prevention/response); Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines (disaster management); BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework; BRICS Incubator Network; BRICS Startup Innovation Fund; BRICS CONNECT (skills/employability/women workforce/social security); BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture; BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal; BRICS Urban Mobility Hub [6]
Nodal Indian scheme on minerals	National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), approved by Union Cabinet, implementing ministry: Ministry of Mines [4]
NCMM outlay	~Rs. 16,300 crore central outlay (some releases cite Rs. 34,300 crore including PSU/private investment) over 7 years [4]
Legal backing for mineral reforms	Amendments to MMDR Act (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act), 1957/2023 amendment [4]
List of critical minerals for India	Notified by Ministry of Mines (30 minerals identified), unveiled by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi [4]
Related bilateral deal	India–Brazil critical minerals/rare-earth cooperation agreement, February 2026 [3]
China's rare-earth processing share	Over 90% of global rare-earth magnet processing capacity [3]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical / Strategic

• Statement is a diplomatic signal within BRICS — a China-led-perception grouping — calling out a member's (implicitly China's) trade practice without naming it, illustrating intra-bloc tension management [3].
• Reflects India's broader strategy of "de-risking" supply chains via plurilateral partnerships (Brazil, Australia, Quad critical minerals initiative) rather than confrontation [3].

Economic

• Critical minerals (rare earths, lithium, cobalt, graphite) are inputs to EVs, semiconductors, defence systems, and renewable energy — supply disruption threatens India's manufacturing and green-transition goals [4].
• NCMM aims to reduce import dependence and build a resilient domestic value chain — exploration, mining, processing, recycling [4].

Scientific / Technological

• "Weaponisation of technology" links to export controls on advanced chips, AI hardware, and rare-earth magnets used in high-tech and defence manufacturing [3].
• BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture (AI, geospatial tech, Digital Public Infrastructure) shows India's counter-narrative of technology-sharing over restriction [6].

Governance / Multilateral Cooperation

• New BRICS frameworks (Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation, Incubator Network, MSME Portal) are institutional responses aimed at building resilience against unilateral trade/tech restrictions [6].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• July 2025: Modi's first "no country should weaponise" remark at Rio BRICS Summit [3][5].
• Since April 2025: China's export curbs on rare earths intensify global concern [3].
• February 2026: India–Brazil rare-earth/critical-minerals cooperation agreement signed [3].
• September 2026: 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi; Modi reiterates warning and unveils multiple new BRICS cooperation frameworks (Early Warning System, Logistics Framework, Incubator Network, Digital Agriculture Network, MSME Portal, Urban Mobility Hub) [1][2][6].

7. Prelims Hooks

• The 18th BRICS Summit (2026) was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi [1][2].
• PM Modi first warned against "weaponisation of critical minerals, technology or supply chains" at the Rio BRICS Summit, July 2025 [3][5].
• China controls over 90% of global rare-earth magnet processing capacity [3].
• National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was approved by the Union Cabinet under the Ministry of Mines [4].
• India's official list of Critical Minerals was unveiled by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi [4].
• NCMM's legal backing comes via amendments to the MMDR Act [4].
• India signed a critical minerals/rare-earth cooperation agreement with Brazil in February 2026 [3].
• The BRICS Integrated Early Warning System was announced for prevention of and response to infectious diseases [6].
• The BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework aims to make supply chains more reliable and resilient [6].
• BRICS CONNECT promotes skills, employability, women in the workforce, and social security [6].
• The BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture links AI, geospatial technology, and Digital Public Infrastructure to farmers' needs [6].
• The BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal connects small enterprises with knowledge, finance, and new markets [6].
• The BRICS Urban Mobility Hub facilitates sharing of best urban-transport practices among member cities [6].
• Minerals like Beryllium, Titanium, Tungsten, Tantalum are notified as critical for defence and electronics use in India [4].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: International Relations — India and its neighborhood/groupings (BRICS); Effect of policies of developed/developing countries on India's interests.
• GS-III: Indian Economy — resources, infrastructure; Science & Technology — indigenisation of technology; Security — linkages of economic security with critical mineral supply chains.
• Possible Mains stems: 1. "Weaponisation of critical minerals and technology poses a new form of economic coercion in international relations." Discuss with reference to India's strategic response through initiatives like the National Critical Mineral Mission. (GS-II/III) 2. Examine how China's dominance over rare-earth processing has reshaped global supply-chain diplomacy, and assess India's diversification strategy. (GS-II) 3. "BRICS is evolving from a political grouping into an institutional architecture for economic resilience." Critically evaluate with recent examples. (GS-II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) — India's domestic response to the very vulnerability Modi flagged.
• Quad Critical Minerals Initiative — parallel plurilateral effort outside BRICS, useful for comparison.
• China's rare-earth export control policy (2023–25) — root cause of the "weaponisation" narrative.
• MMDR Act amendments (2023) — legal backbone enabling private participation in critical mineral mining.
• India–Brazil bilateral relations / BRICS bilateral deals (Feb 2026 rare-earth pact) — concrete diplomatic follow-through.
• BRICS expansion and New Development Bank — institutional context of BRICS's evolving role.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat and strategic sectors (semiconductors, defence manufacturing) — end-use dependency on critical minerals.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) diplomacy — India's counter-offer of technology-sharing highlighted via BRICS Digital Agriculture Network.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Do not confuse the Rio BRICS Summit (July 2025), where Modi first made this remark, with the 18th BRICS Summit (2026, New Delhi), where he reiterated it — these are separate events with separate host countries.
• NCMM outlay figures vary across official releases (Rs. 16,300 crore central vs. Rs. 34,300 crore total with PSU investment) — read the question carefully for which figure is being asked.
• NCMM is administered by the Ministry of Mines, not the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) — a common ministry mix-up.
• Do not assume Modi named China explicitly — official statements at BRICS avoid naming member states directly; it is a "veiled reference" per media analysis, not an official government statement naming China.
• BRICS frameworks named in the article (Early Warning System, Logistics Framework, etc.) are separate initiatives from NCMM — don't conflate India's domestic mineral mission with these multilateral BRICS mechanisms.