[Answered] Analyze the strategic rationale behind the ‘Pax Silica’ initiative in mitigating coercive dependencies within global AI supply chains. Evaluate the potential of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure in positioning the country as a trusted partner within this secure technological framework.

Introduction

Emerging geopolitical rivalries have shifted global power from hydrocarbons to code and chips; the Pax Silica initiative reflects this transition by securitising AI supply chains against coercive dependencies and systemic technological vulnerabilities.”

Pax Silica as a Strategic Response to Weaponised Interdependence

1. From Globalisation to Friend-shoring: Pax Silica marks a decisive shift from efficiency-driven global value chains to resilience-oriented ‘friend-shored’ ecosystems, reflecting lessons from COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict.
2. Countering Resource Coercion: China controls over 60% of rare-earth processing (IEA, 2023) and has used export restrictions as strategic leverage, including curbs on REEs and gallium. Pax Silica seeks to dilute this chokepoint power.
3. Securing the AI Stack: The initiative spans critical minerals, advanced lithography, GPUs, High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), cloud infrastructure, and foundational models—treating compute and chips as strategic assets akin to energy security.
4. Normative Architecture of ‘Trusted Tech’: Pax Silica embeds values of supply-chain transparency, IP protection, and cybersecurity, aiming to build a ‘trusted digital commons’ distinct from authoritarian techno-statism.”

Mitigating Coercive Dependencies in Global AI Supply Chains

1. De-risking from Single-Country Dominance: By pooling capabilities of the US (design), Japan (materials), Netherlands (ASML lithography), Korea (memory), and Australia (critical minerals), Pax Silica reduces systemic overdependence.
2. Collective Investment Frameworks: The initiative enables public-private co-investment in fabs, data centres, and energy grids, recognising compute power as a determinant of national competitiveness (WEF, 2024).
3. Export Controls with Coordination: Unlike unilateral controls, Pax Silica aims for harmonised export regulations to prevent technology leakage while avoiding fragmentation seen in past tech embargo regimes.

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure as a Strategic Value Proposition

1. DPI as a Global Public Good: India’s DPI—Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and Bhashini—has demonstrated population-scale, low-cost digital inclusion, praised by the IMF as a ‘template for digital transformation’.
2. Democratising AI Adoption: Unlike corporate-led Western models, India’s DPI-led AI enables ‘last-mile intelligence’, supporting welfare delivery, fintech, and multilingual governance across diverse socio-economic contexts.
3. IndiaAI Mission and Compute Sovereignty: With over ₹10,000 crore allocated, India is building sovereign GPU infrastructure and indigenous LLMs, aligning with Pax Silica’s emphasis on trusted and secure AI ecosystems.
4. Human Capital Advantage: India supplies nearly 20% of the world’s AI workforce (LinkedIn, 2024). Reverse brain drain amid restrictive visa regimes can further strengthen domestic AI and semiconductor capabilities.”

Strategic Challenges for India within Pax Silica

1. Strategic Autonomy vs. Alignment:  Joining a US-led framework may generate pressure to align on export controls and geopolitical positions, potentially constraining India’s multi-alignment doctrine.
2. Late-Entrant and Capability Gaps: India lags in advanced node fabrication (<2% global share), necessitating calibrated protection, subsidies, and phased integration into Pax Silica norms.
3. Developing-Country Sensitivities: As the first major developing economy in Pax Silica, India must ensure that the initiative does not evolve into an exclusive high-income technology cartel.

Way Forward: From Participation to Co-Architecture

1. Strengthening Domestic Foundations:  Accelerating the India Semiconductor Mission and National Critical Minerals Mission is essential to convert strategic intent into tangible capacity.
2. Norm-Setting Leadership: India can leverage platforms like the Global Partnership on AI and India-AI Summits to embed principles of ethical, inclusive, and development-sensitive AI.
3. Balancing Security with Openness: India must advocate a Pax Silica that secures supply chains without undermining South–South cooperation or affordable access for emerging economies.

Conclusion

India’s Pax Silica engagement must harmonise technological alignment with strategic autonomy, ensuring security without sacrificing developmental equity in the digital age.