India Joins Pax Silica
Science & Technology
Context
- Recently, India has formally entered the US-led Pax Silica coalition, marking a significant moment in the geopolitics of semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and critical mineral supply chains.
âPax Silicaâ
- launched in – December, 2025
- It is a coalition comprising the United States, Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and now India.
- Objective – It is a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain from critical minerals.
- The term âPax Silicaâ derived from Latin âPaxâ (peace) and âSilicaâ (a core compound in semiconductors).
- Significance – It symbolizes the pursuit of technological peace and prosperity through resilient, transparent, and cooperative supply chains.
Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) Scheme
(Government schemes)
Context
- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament criticised the government for implementation of the Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) scheme.
SANKALP Scheme
- Implementation – Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- It was launched in 2018,
- It was designed to strengthen shortâterm skill training through better institutional frameworks, enhanced industry linkages, and targeted inclusion of marginalised communities.
- Funding: The scheme was slated to be financed through a World Bank loan of âč3,300 crore, State leverage of âč660 crore, and industry leverage of âč495 crore.
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)
Economy
In News
- The US Supreme Court ruled that President Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad import tariffs, citing limits on presidential power over taxation and the âmajor questionsâ doctrine.
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)
- Enacted in 1977,
- It empowers the President to address âunusual and extraordinaryâ foreign threats to national security, foreign policy, or the economy after declaring a national emergency.
- In response, the President invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to proclaim a new 10% temporary tariff on goods from all countries, effective immediately, as a balance -of-payments measure.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
In News
- India assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) from Thailand.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)
- It is a voluntary naval forum launched by the Indian Navy in 2008
- Mandate – to boost maritime cooperation among littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- IONS promotes mutual understanding among navies through biennial conclaves of chiefs, working groups, and activities like workshops and exercises.
- Key focus areas include maritime security (anti-piracy), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and capacity building to address regional threats collaboratively.
- It features a rotating chairmanship (India held it multiple times) and divides 25 member states into four sub-regions: South Asian (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Maldives), West Asian, Southeast Asian/Australian, and East African.
- Nine observers participate; no fixed headquarters exists.
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