PM Modi Cautions Against Weaponising Technology and Critical Minerals

Gist At the recent BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned against the growing global trend of weaponising technology and critical minerals. To counter these vulnerabilities, he outlined a comprehensive suite of new BRICS-led initiatives targeting supply chain resilience, pandemic preparedness, and agricultural innovation. For civil services aspirants, these announcements are critical as they signal the evolution of BRICS from a geopolitical dialogue forum into a functional bloc offering concrete institutional frameworks for the Global South. Background Weaponisation of Critical Minerals and Technology: This refers to dominant state actors using their monopolistic control over advanced technologies or essential raw materials such as rare earth elements used in electronics and green energy as geopolitical leverage, often restricting access during conflicts. The BRICS Grouping: Originally formed as an economic bloc of major emerging economies, BRICS is now entering its third decade. The Prime Minister emphasized that global expectations have shifted; the world now expects the bloc to deliver "concrete results" rather than merely generating "ideas and commitments." Interconnected Vulnerabilities: Recent global disruptions—such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate-induced disasters, and…