India and the UK strengthen critical minerals cooperation with the GSCO launch

India and the United Kingdom have formally launched the Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO), a joint initiative aimed at improving cooperation, information-sharing and technology collaboration in the critical minerals sector.

The observatory was officially launched on June 5, 2026. It was first announced during the visit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to India in October 2025 as part of efforts to “expand mineral coverage, integrate advanced technologies and unlock new bilateral investment opportunities.”

The GSCO will be jointly operated by the Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN), the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad and the University of Cambridge.

The platform will function as a data-driven system for monitoring and analysing global critical mineral supply chains. It is intended to provide insights into supply chain developments and support decision-making related to critical minerals.

“This is a major step towards strengthening critical mineral supply chains, supporting clean energy transitions, and building resilient global supply chains through the India–UK partnership,” said G. Kishan Reddy in a social media post.

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UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said greater access to critical minerals and improved information-sharing would benefit both countries.

According to the official announcement, Cooper also noted that the observatory could serve as a foundation for broader collaboration between India and the UK in the critical minerals sector and related strategic industries.