The US-led Pax Silica initiative, aimed at securing supply chains in critical minerals, semiconductors, and AI, notably excludes India. This exclusion, despite the initiative's implicit aim to counter China, is attributed to India's limited contributions in high-tech sectors and R&D investment, which stands at 0.6-0.7% of GDP compared to global leaders. Decades of inattention to high technology and mineral exploration have left India lacking in critical areas, unlike member nations and guests who offer significant technological or resource capabilities.