India Joins Pax Silica, Deepens US Partnership on AI & Critical Supply Chains

India, on February 20, formally joined Pax Silica—the United States’ flagship initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security—aimed at strengthening resilient supply chains for critical minerals and AI while countering China’s dominance in rare earths.

The Pax Silica Declaration underscores the importance of reliable supply chains indispensable to mutual economic security and recognises AI as a transformative force for long-term prosperity.

The declaration was signed at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw; US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor; US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg; and IT Ministry Secretary S Krishnan; Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra; and Tata Electronics CEO and MD Randhir Thakur.

“India has become a part of Pax Silica. This will greatly benefit India’s electronics and semiconductor industry. Ten plants are already established or under establishment, and soon the first semiconductor plant will begin commercial production,” Vaishnaw said after signing the pact.

He highlighted the enablement of 315 universities, giving students free access to leading EDA tools such as Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems and Siemens. Students can also fabricate and test chips at the Semi-Conductor Laboratory, Mohali, at no cost, gaining real-world validation.

Describing the initiative as a strategic coalition to shape the 21st-century technological order, Gor said India’s participation was “strategic and essential”.

During a panel discussion after the signing, Krishnan noted that under the India Semiconductor Mission, 10 projects have been approved, including investments by Micron Technology and Tata Electronics. A second phase of the mission, along with the National Critical Minerals Mission, aims to deepen resilient collaboration with the US.

The overarching message was clear: trusted partnerships, shared values and diversified supply chains will define technological leadership in the decades ahead.

Signatories of the declaration include Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE and the UK, according to the US State Department.