← 2 October 2026's Current Affairs · Science & Tech GA Prelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★☆☆☆
India in Talks with Australia and Chile for Lithium Blocks
వార్తల్లో ఎందుకు?
India eyes lithium in Australia and Chile: the KABIL overseas-minerals vehicle GS-III aspirants must know
India seeks lithium blocks in Australia and Chile via its overseas minerals vehicle.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2025; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 నిమి
India is in talks with Australia and Chile to acquire lithium blocks as it looks for secure supplies of critical minerals for batteries.
Lithium is an alkali metal in Group 1 of the periodic table.
Overseas mineral assets are pursued through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), a public-sector venture formed in 2019.
మూలాలు: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ముఖ్య వాస్తవాలు
Remember these
- India is in talks with Australia and Chile to acquire lithium blocks
- Lithium is an alkali metal in Group 1 of the periodic table
- Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) was formed in 2019 as a public-sector venture
- KABIL pursues overseas mineral assets to secure critical minerals for batteries
ప్రిలిమ్స్ · మెయిన్స్
How the exam will ask it
ప్రిలిమ్స్
- Lithium is an alkali metal belonging to Group 1 of the periodic table.
- Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), formed in 2019, is the public-sector venture that pursues critical mineral assets overseas.
- Lithium is a critical mineral for battery manufacturing.
మెయిన్స్
GS-III (Economy, Science & Technology): India depends on imports of critical minerals like lithium for batteries and clean energy. Policy response includes overseas acquisition through KABIL and talks with Australia and Chile. Way forward: diversify supply sources, build domestic exploration and processing capacity, and develop recycling and alternative battery chemistries.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Consider the following statements: I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member. II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified. III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- I and II only
- II and III only
- I and III only
- I, II and III
సమాధానం చూడండి
సమాధానం: C
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Which public-sector venture was set up in 2019 to secure critical mineral assets such as lithium abroad for India?
- Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited
- National Mineral Development Corporation
- Hindustan Copper Limited
- Khanij Bidesh India Limited
సమాధానం చూడండి
సమాధానం: D — Correct: Khanij Bidesh India Limited — Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) was created to acquire critical mineral assets overseas. • Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited — wrong: MECL is mainly an exploration and consultancy agency, not the overseas acquisition vehicle. • National Mineral Development Corporation — wrong: NMDC mines minerals such as iron ore mainly within India. • Hindustan Copper Limited — wrong: Hindustan Copper is a copper miner and does not run the overseas critical-mineral programme.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ