UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Pilot Plant for the Manufacture of Nd-Fe-B Rare Earth Permanent Magnets established at ARCI, Hyderabad
Q1. ARCI, Hyderabad — the host institution of the newly established Nd-Fe-B rare-earth permanent magnet pilot plant — concentrates its research on how many major technological thrust areas?
- A. Two
- B. Four
- C. Six
- D. Eight
Q2. With reference to ARCI, Hyderabad and other bodies associated with the Nd-Fe-B magnet initiative, consider the following statements:
1. ARCI is an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, whereas MIDHANI functions under the Ministry of Defence.
2. ARCI was established earlier than the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
3. Unlike ARCI, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) does not fall under the Department of Science and Technology.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- ARCI is an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, whereas MIDHANI functions under the Ministry of Defence.
- ARCI was established earlier than the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
- Unlike ARCI, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) does not fall under the Department of Science and Technology.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. Consider the following elements:
1. Neodymium
2. Iron
3. Boron
4. Samarium
Which of the above are correctly identified as essential constituent elements of the base (standard) Nd-Fe-B sintered permanent magnet?
- Neodymium
- Iron
- Boron
- Samarium
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. With reference to a comparison between sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets and Samarium-Cobalt (SmCo) magnets, consider the following statements:
1. Nd-Fe-B magnets are among the strongest permanent magnets known and typically offer a higher maximum energy product (BHmax) than SmCo magnets.
2. Nd-Fe-B magnets possess a higher Curie temperature and superior high-temperature performance than SmCo magnets.
3. Heavy rare-earth additions such as dysprosium are used in Nd-Fe-B magnets to improve their high-temperature/coercive performance.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Nd-Fe-B magnets are among the strongest permanent magnets known and typically offer a higher maximum energy product (BHmax) than SmCo magnets.
- Nd-Fe-B magnets possess a higher Curie temperature and superior high-temperature performance than SmCo magnets.
- Heavy rare-earth additions such as dysprosium are used in Nd-Fe-B magnets to improve their high-temperature/coercive performance.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. The pilot plant demonstrating the complete end-to-end route (strip-cast alloy to finished sintered magnet) for Nd-Fe-B magnets at ARCI, Hyderabad was inaugurated in which year?
- A. 2023
- B. 2024
- C. 2025
- D. 2026
Q6. The pilot plant operationalising the indigenous end-to-end Nd-Fe-B magnet manufacturing process (strip casting through sintering) is hosted and run by which institution?
- A. ARCI, Hyderabad
- B. National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
- C. MIDHANI, Hyderabad
- D. IREL (India) Ltd.
Q7. The 'Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets', framed to reduce India's import dependence on China for magnets, was approved by which authority?
- A. The Union Cabinet
- B. NITI Aayog
- C. The Ministry of Heavy Industries on its own
- D. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
Q8. Nd-Fe-B rare-earth permanent magnets are frequently described as 'dual-use' items. In this strategic-trade context, 'dual-use' most precisely means an item that:
- A. has both civilian and military/defence applications
- B. can be manufactured in two different countries simultaneously
- C. combines two distinct rare-earth elements in equal proportion
- D. can be recycled twice before disposal
Q9. In the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets, the target capacity is expressed as '6,000 MTPA'. Here 'MTPA' stands for:
- A. Metric Tonnes Per Annum
- B. Magnets Treated Per Annum
- C. Metric Tonnes Per Acre
- D. Mega-Tonnes Per Annum
Q10. At the inauguration of the ARCI Nd-Fe-B pilot plant, certain end-uses were highlighted as critical applications of these magnets. Consider the following:
1. Electric vehicle traction motors
2. Wind turbine generators
3. Defence electronics
4. Nuclear fuel fabrication
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as such critical applications?
- Electric vehicle traction motors
- Wind turbine generators
- Defence electronics
- Nuclear fuel fabrication
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q11. With reference to the classification of rare earth elements relevant to Nd-Fe-B magnets, consider the following statements:
1. Neodymium and praseodymium are classified as light rare earth elements (LREEs).
2. Dysprosium and terbium are heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) added to magnets to improve high-temperature/coercive performance.
3. Yttrium, owing to its low atomic number, is grouped with the light rare earth elements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Neodymium and praseodymium are classified as light rare earth elements (LREEs).
- Dysprosium and terbium are heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) added to magnets to improve high-temperature/coercive performance.
- Yttrium, owing to its low atomic number, is grouped with the light rare earth elements.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. Which of the following is India's flagship national mission for building a resilient end-to-end value chain (exploration to recycling) for critical minerals, within which rare-earth self-reliance efforts are anchored?
- A. National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)
- B. Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM)
- C. PM E-DRIVE Scheme
- D. FAME-II Scheme