PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH MINERALS

• Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are 17 metallic elements (15 lanthanides + Sc + Y) critical for permanent magnets, EVs, wind turbines, defence and atomic energy applications.
• In India, REEs are extracted by IREL (India) Limited, a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), principally from monazite found in Beach Sand Minerals (BSM).
• The topic blends GS-III (resources, S&T, internal security/strategic minerals) with GS-II (international relations — China dependency) and is a recurring Parliament-question theme.