Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Q4. Discuss the significance of the Quad in strengthening a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific. How does cooperation in critical minerals expand the scope of the grouping? (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question
The growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific and critical minerals has expanded the scope of the Quad from a security-focused grouping to a comprehensive platform for economic and technological cooperation.
Key Demand of the question
The question requires an examination of the Quad’s contribution towards a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific and an analysis of how critical minerals cooperation broadens the strategic agenda of the grouping.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly introduce the Quad and the increasing significance of economic security and resilient supply chains in contemporary international relations.
Body
- Significance of Quad in the Indo-Pacific: Discuss its role in promoting a rules-based maritime order, regional stability, connectivity, technology cooperation and resilience against traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
- Expansion of Quad’s scope through critical minerals cooperation: Explain how critical minerals cooperation strengthens supply-chain resilience, clean-energy transition, technological security and economic partnerships among member countries.
Conclusion
Highlight that the Quad’s evolution reflects the fusion of security and economic interests, making it an important pillar of a stable, resilient and future-ready Indo-Pacific.
