The Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) has underscored the growing strategic importance of critical minerals in strengthening India’s defence preparedness and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Speaking at a high-level, closed-door roundtable titled “Minerals That Matter: Geopolitics, Sovereignty & Value Chains” in New Delhi on December 17, 2025, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said critical minerals have emerged as key enablers of national security, defence capability development and technological sovereignty. The Tech Talk was organised by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) in collaboration with IP Bazzaar.

In his keynote address, Air Marshal Dixit noted that modern defence systems—ranging from jet engines and missiles to precision munitions, radars, satellites, batteries and semiconductors—are intrinsically dependent on assured access to critical minerals. He cautioned that global supply chains for these minerals remain highly concentrated and are increasingly subject to export controls and geopolitical pressures, making excessive import dependence a strategic vulnerability.

The Air Marshal emphasised that self-reliant defence manufacturing and sustained operational readiness are closely linked to secure and resilient mineral supply chains. He said this approach aligns with India’s broader national objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.

Highlighting recent policy measures, he referred to initiatives such as the identification of critical minerals, the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission and the government’s efforts to strengthen the entire value chain—from extraction and processing to manufacturing and recycling. These steps, he said, are essential to convert policy intent into tangible outcomes.

As part of the event, Air Marshal Dixit inaugurated a collection of 30 technical reports on critical minerals, featuring detailed intellectual property landscape studies and market analyses. The invitation-only forum brought together senior policymakers, defence experts, industry leaders, technology innovators, academia and IP professionals to discuss India’s strategic approach to critical minerals amid a rapidly evolving global environment. The event also received best wishes from G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India.