BRICS AND BUILDING RESILIENCE AGAINST THE WEAPONISATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND CRITICAL MINERALS
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
At the concluding session of the BRICS Summit hosted by India, the Prime Minister warned that the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals could undermine global development.
Critical Minerals and Technology
- Critical minerals are essential for clean energy, semiconductors, electronics, defence and advanced manufacturing.
- Excessive concentration of their mining, processing and supply chains can create strategic vulnerabilities.
- India seeks to promote strategic autonomy and technology inclusivity rather than allowing economic interdependence to become geopolitical leverage.
India advocated:
- Diversified and resilient supply chains for critical minerals.
- Greater value addition and benefit sharing for resource-rich countries.
- Economic diversification in mineral-producing economies.
- Respect for sovereign rights over natural resources.
- Wider access to advanced and emerging technologies.
BRICS as a Platform for the Global South
- BRICS is increasingly viewed by developing countries as a platform where their concerns can be discussed without externally imposed solutions.
- Its diverse membership provides opportunities for cooperation among countries with different developmental needs.
- India seeks to shift BRICS from merely representing the grievances of the Global South towards creating practical, scalable and accessible solutions in development, technology, finance and sustainability.
Four Pillars of India’s BRICS Chairship
Resilience
- BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases.
- Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines for disaster management.
- Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework to improve supply-chain reliability.
- Focus on anticipatory governance rather than only crisis response.
Innovation
- BRICS Incubator Network to connect start-ups and incubators.
- Startup Innovation Fund to support scalable solutions.
- Digital Agriculture Network integrating AI, geospatial technology and Digital Public Infrastructure with farmers’ needs.
Cooperation and Participation
- BRICS CONNECT for skills, employability, women’s workforce participation and social security.
- MSME Cooperation Portal for access to finance, markets and knowledge.
- Urban Mobility Hub for sharing best practices.
- Greater participation of farmers, women, youth, researchers and entrepreneurs.
Sustainability
- Digital Centre of Excellence for smart grids and energy storage.
- Centres of Excellence for agro-ecology and regenerative agriculture.
- Integration of traditional knowledge with modern science.
Way Forward
- BRICS must convert declarations into measurable outcomes through diversified mineral supply chains, responsible technology governance, resilient logistics and inclusive digitalisation.
- Greater investment in recycling, domestic processing, technology sharing and capacity building can reduce strategic dependence.
Conclusion
India’s BRICS chairship seeks to build an “ecosystem of solutions” where technology, critical minerals and economic integration become instruments of shared prosperity rather than geopolitical leverage.
COPPER PRICES HIT RECORD HIGH
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
Copper prices recently touched a record $14,708 per tonne, despite uncertainty in the global economic outlook. The rally is being driven mainly by expectations of US tariffs on refined copper, stockpiling and supply constraints, rather than strong global economic growth.
Why Copper Matters
- It is often called “Dr Copper” because its price traditionally reflects global economic activity.
- Copper, known as the “red metal”, is a critical industrial commodity used in:
- Power transmission and electricity grids, Construction and manufacturing
- Renewable energy and energy storage, Electric vehicles
- Defence and electronics, Artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres
- However, the present rally demonstrates that commodity prices can also be strongly influenced by trade policies and supply-chain movements.
What is Driving the Current Rally?
- The major factor is the expected US tariff on refined copper. The US imposed a 50% tariff on semi-finished and derivative copper imports in August 2025, while refined copper remained exempt.
- A proposal to impose a 15% tariff on refined copper from January 2027, rising to 30% in 2028, has encouraged traders to move supplies into the US before the potential duties take effect.
- Traders have been transferring copper from international warehouses to the US COMEX market.
- This has reduced readily available stocks in London and Shanghai while increasing inventories in the US, creating tighter conditions outside the US.
Arbitrage Opportunities
- The difference between exchange prices has created an arbitrage opportunity.
- Traders can purchase copper in a relatively cheaper market and sell it in a higher-priced market.
- The LME–COMEX price gap has reportedly reached around $400–500 per tonne.
- However, arbitrage is largely a consequence of the broader inventory shift rather than the principal cause of the rally.
Structural Demand and Supply Factors
- The longer-term outlook is also supported by rising copper demand from:
- AI and data centres, which require copper for electricity, cooling and networking.
- Renewable energy and power grids, as global electrification accelerates.
- Electric vehicles, which require substantially more copper than conventional vehicles.
- At the same time, mine supply remains constrained, with disruptions and lower shipments from major producers adding pressure to global availability.
Significance for India
- India’s expanding power, infrastructure, renewable energy, electronics and EV sectors will increase copper demand.
- Persistently high prices could raise project and manufacturing costs.
- India therefore needs to diversify import sources, promote copper recycling and urban mining, encourage domestic exploration and strengthen long-term mineral supply agreements.
Conclusion
The copper rally highlights how tariffs, stockpiling and supply-chain restructuring can influence commodity prices independently of economic growth. For India, securing reliable and affordable copper supplies will be increasingly important for achieving its electrification and clean-energy goals.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed the Global South’s demand for expansion of the UN Security Council at the BRICS Summit.
Why Does the UNSC Need Reform?
- The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
- It currently has 15 members — five permanent members and ten non-permanent members.
- However, its composition has become increasingly unrepresentative, In 1945, the UN had 51 members, while the Security Council had 11 members.
- Today, the UN has 193 members, but the Council still has only 15 members.
- The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, UK and US (possess veto power).
- Veto use has often complicated collective responses to conflicts such as Ukraine and Gaza.
- Regions such as Africa, Latin America and Asia remain inadequately represented in permanent decision-making.
- Europe has disproportionate influence despite accounting for a relatively small share of the global population.
- Therefore, reform is necessary to improve the representativeness, legitimacy and effectiveness of the Council.
India’s Case for a Permanent Seat
- India’s demand is based on a combination of demographic, economic, military and diplomatic contributions:
- Demographic significance: India is the world’s most populous country and represents a substantial share of humanity.
- Economic and strategic weight: India is among the world’s largest economies and an important player in trade, technology, energy and development.
- Contribution to UN Peacekeeping: India has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions since 1948.
- Leadership of the Global South: India has promoted initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuels Alliance and G20 priorities.
BRICS and UNSC Reform
- The BRICS New Delhi Declaration called for comprehensive UN reform, including Security Council reform, to make the institution more democratic, representative, effective and efficient.
- Russia and China have also expressed support for the aspirations of India and Brazil for a greater role in the UN.
Challenges to Reform
- Any change to the UN Charter requires a two-thirds General Assembly majority and ratification by all five permanent members, giving existing P5 members considerable influence over reform.
- The Uniting for Consensus (Coffee Club) opposes the creation of additional permanent seats and favours expanding non-permanent membership.
- There is no consensus on whether new permanent members should receive veto power, making negotiations even more difficult.
UNITED NATIONS (UN)
The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 after the Second World War to promote international peace and prevent future conflicts.
- Membership: It has 193 member states, making it the principal global forum for international cooperation.
- Headquarters: Its headquarters is located in New York City, USA, with major offices in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi.
- Main Objectives: The UN works to maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, support sustainable development and provide humanitarian assistance.
- Principal Organs: The UN functions through six principal organs — General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat and Trusteeship Council.
Conclusion
UNSC reform is no longer merely an institutional demand but a necessity for credible and effective multilateralism. The existing “pyramid of privilege” must gradually evolve into a “platform of partnership”, reflecting the realities and aspirations of the 21st century.
INDIA’S ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE AND NEED FOR A SYSTEMIC APPROACH
TOPIC: (GS2) GOVERNANCE: THE HINDU
The Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to examine measures to promote the regular use of seat belts, helmets and child restraint systems.
Scale of the Problem
- India has around 1% of the world’s vehicles but accounts for nearly 11% of global road fatalities, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
- According to NCRB, nearly 1.99 lakh people died in traffic accidents in 2024, of which about 1.75 lakh were due to road accidents. MoRTH data shows that:
- Two-wheeler riders accounted for 46.2% of road deaths. Pedestrians accounted for 20.6% of fatalities.
- These figures underline the vulnerability of road users who have limited physical protection.
Major Causes
- Unsafe driving: Overspeeding, drunk driving, dangerous overtaking and distracted driving significantly increase crash risks.
- Unsafe infrastructure: Potholes, poor lighting, inadequate signage, unsafe junctions and poorly designed roads contribute to accidents.
- Weak enforcement: Inconsistent enforcement of traffic rules reduces compliance with speed limits, helmet and seat-belt requirements.
- Inadequate driver training: Weak licensing and insufficient road-safety education can result in unsafe driving behaviour.
- Poor post-crash care: Delays in ambulances, trauma care and transportation to hospitals can convert survivable injuries into fatalities.
Need for a Safe System Approach
- Safer Roads: Identify and rectify black spots through better junction design, lighting, signage and segregation of traffic.
- Speed Management: Set and enforce speed limits according to road conditions, particularly around schools and pedestrian-intensive areas.
- Safer Vehicles: Strengthen seat-belt reminders, airbags and other safety technologies while improving vehicle safety standards.
- Protection of Vulnerable Users: Develop safe footpaths, crossings, cycle tracks and dedicated facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler users.
- Post-Crash Response: Strengthen ambulances, emergency medical services and trauma-care facilities, especially in rural and remote areas.
Government Measures
- The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 strengthened penalties and enforcement mechanisms. e-DAR/iRAD facilitates centralised accident-data collection and analysis, while the Good Samaritan framework encourages citizens to assist crash victims.
- Globally, the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 seeks to reduce road deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030.
Conclusion
Road safety requires a whole-of-system approach where safer roads, vehicles, speeds, users and emergency care work together to prevent avoidable deaths and make mobility safer for all.
ACHARYA VINOBA BHAVE
TOPIC: (GS1) INDIAN ART AND CULTURE: THE HINDU
The Prime Minister paid tributes to Acharya Vinoba Bhave on his birth anniversary.
Early Life and Contributions
- Birth: Vinayak Narahar Bhave was born on 11 September 1895 in Maharashtra.
- He was a prominent Gandhian thinker, social reformer, philosopher and freedom fighter.
- He is regarded as the spiritual successor of Mahatma Gandhi and was popularly known as a national teacher.
- He translated the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi as ‘Geetai’, making its teachings accessible to ordinary people.
- His philosophy emphasised non-violence, voluntary service, social equality and constructive work.
Association with Mahatma Gandhi
- In 1916, Vinoba was deeply influenced by Gandhi’s lecture at Banaras Hindu University and decided to abandon his academic education.
- He later met Gandhi at Kochrab Ashram, Ahmedabad, which became a turning point in his life.
- He adopted Gandhian constructive programmes such as:
- Khadi and village industries
- Nai Talim
- Sanitation and cleanliness
- Social equality and removal of untouchability
- In 1925, Gandhi entrusted him with work related to the entry of Harijans into the Vaikom temple, Kerala.
- Gandhi regarded Vinoba Bhave as his spiritual heir.
Bhoodan Movement
- Vinoba launched the Bhoodan (Land-Gift) Movement in 1951 from Pochampally, Telangana.
- He appealed to landowners to voluntarily donate land to landless farmers.
- The movement reflected Gandhian principles of Sarvodaya, non-violence and voluntary redistribution.
Conclusion
Vinoba Bhave remains an important figure in India’s traditions of social reform, rural development and ethical leadership. His life demonstrates how non-violent action and voluntary social participation can contribute to social justice and collective welfare.
PERIM ISLAND (MAYUN)
TOPIC: (GS1) GEOGRAPHY: THE HINDU
Iran-aligned Houthi forces reportedly took control of Perim Island, also known as Mayun, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The development has raised concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
About Perim Island
- Location: Perim is a small, barren volcanic island located about 3.5 km off Yemen’s western coast.
- It lies at the entrance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
- The island’s location provides strategic control over maritime movement between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Strategic Significance
- Control over Shipping: Its location allows influence over vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Suez Canal Connection: The Red Sea–Bab el-Mandeb route forms part of the maritime corridor linking the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal and European markets.
- Global Trade: Any disruption can increase shipping distances, insurance costs, freight rates and delivery times.
- Energy Security: The route is important for global movement of oil and other energy commodities.
- Geopolitical Importance: Control over the island can provide strategic leverage amid tensions involving Yemen, the Red Sea and West Asia.
Significance for India
- The Bab el-Mandeb route is important for India–Europe trade and energy security.
- Instability can force ships to take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing transportation costs.
Conclusion
Perim Island’s small size belies its strategic importance. Its position at the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint makes developments there significant for regional security, global trade and India’s maritime interests.
