UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH RESERVES IN THE COUNTRY

Question 1

Which agency, a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy, is the lead nodal body for exploration and augmentation of rare earth and atomic mineral resources in India?

Accepted Answer

Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)

Answer

Geological Survey of India (GSI)

Answer

Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)

Answer

Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)

Question 2

In the context of India's rare earth resources, monazite — the principal host mineral — is best described as a mineral that primarily contains:

Accepted Answer

Thorium (about 10% ThO2) and rare earth oxides (about 55% REO)

Answer

Yttrium and heavy rare earth elements as a phosphate

Answer

Lithium and niobium oxides

Answer

Titanium and iron oxides

Question 3

The augmentation of 482.6 million tonnes of rare earth ore resources across 34 exploration projects, at various cut-off grades, has been carried out by which organisation?

Accepted Answer

Geological Survey of India (GSI)

Answer

Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)

Answer

Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)

Answer

Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)

Question 4

Xenotime, found in the riverine placer deposits of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, is a phosphate mineral chiefly of which elements?

Accepted Answer

Yttrium and heavy rare earth elements

Answer

Thorium and light rare earth elements

Answer

Titanium and zirconium

Answer

Lithium and beryllium

Question 5

Which ministry is the lead implementing ministry for the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Mines

Answer

Ministry of Heavy Industries

Answer

Department of Atomic Energy

Answer

Ministry of Coal

Question 6

Under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, what was the key change regarding six erstwhile atomic minerals (including lithium and niobium)?

Accepted Answer

They were delisted from the list of atomic minerals, enabling grant of concessions to the private sector through auction

Answer

They were reserved exclusively for exploration by the Department of Atomic Energy

Answer

They were reclassified as minor minerals to be regulated solely by State Governments

Answer

They were prohibited from commercial mining on environmental grounds

Question 7

In value terms, the single largest use of rare earth elements is in which of the following applications?

Accepted Answer

Rare earth permanent magnets

Answer

Petroleum cracking catalysts

Answer

Glass polishing powders

Answer

Phosphors for display screens

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH RESERVES IN THE COUNTRY

Q1. Which agency, a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy, is the lead nodal body for exploration and augmentation of rare earth and atomic mineral resources in India?

Q2. In the context of India's rare earth resources, monazite — the principal host mineral — is best described as a mineral that primarily contains:

Q3. The augmentation of 482.6 million tonnes of rare earth ore resources across 34 exploration projects, at various cut-off grades, has been carried out by which organisation?

Q4. Xenotime, found in the riverine placer deposits of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, is a phosphate mineral chiefly of which elements?

Q5. Which ministry is the lead implementing ministry for the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)?

Q6. Under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, what was the key change regarding six erstwhile atomic minerals (including lithium and niobium)?

Q7. In value terms, the single largest use of rare earth elements is in which of the following applications?