UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India, U.S. draw up deal on rare earth elements

Q1. The India–U.S. Framework on 'Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths' (May 2026) was signed on the sidelines of which one of the following meetings?

  • A. 11th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting, New Delhi
  • B. G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Rio de Janeiro
  • C. BRICS Summit, Kazan
  • D. East Asia Summit, Vientiane

Q2. With reference to the India–U.S. Framework on securing critical minerals and rare earths (May 2026), consider the following statements: 1. It was signed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 2. It builds on an earlier India–U.S. MoU to expand and diversify critical mineral supply chains. 3. Unlike the earlier MoU, the 2026 Framework is a legally binding treaty. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was signed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
  2. It builds on an earlier India–U.S. MoU to expand and diversify critical mineral supply chains.
  3. Unlike the earlier MoU, the 2026 Framework is a legally binding treaty.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework (May 2026), consider the following statements: 1. It was announced among Australia, India, Japan and the United States. 2. It intends to mobilise up to US$20 billion in government and private-sector support. 3. Its three pillars are investment and project development, regulatory alignment, and defence technology transfer. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was announced among Australia, India, Japan and the United States.
  2. It intends to mobilise up to US$20 billion in government and private-sector support.
  3. Its three pillars are investment and project development, regulatory alignment, and defence technology transfer.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which one of the following figures best represents China's approximate share of global rare earth processing (refining) capacity — the stage where it holds its largest dominance?

  • A. About 90%
  • B. About 70%
  • C. About 36%
  • D. About 50%

Q5. With reference to China's position in the global rare earth supply chain, consider the following: 1. Share of global processing capacity — about 90%. 2. Share of global mining output — about 70%. 3. Share of global rare earth reserves — about 60%. 4. Month in which it expanded rare earth export controls — October 2025. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Share of global processing capacity — about 90%.
  2. Share of global mining output — about 70%.
  3. Share of global rare earth reserves — about 60%.
  4. Month in which it expanded rare earth export controls — October 2025.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. The National Critical Mineral Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2025, functions under which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Ministry of Coal
  • C. Ministry of Steel
  • D. Ministry of Earth Sciences

Q7. A committee constituted by the Ministry of Mines (2022) — providing the analytical basis for the National Critical Mineral Mission — identified how many minerals as 'critical minerals' for India?

  • A. 30
  • B. 17
  • C. 22
  • D. 40

Q8. KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd), the vehicle set up to acquire critical and strategic mineral assets abroad, was incorporated with equity contributions from how many Central Public Sector Enterprises?

  • A. 3
  • B. 2
  • C. 5
  • D. 8

Q9. IREL (India) Limited, India's principal producer of high-purity rare earth oxides from monazite, operates under which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Atomic Energy
  • B. Ministry of Mines
  • C. Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • D. Defence Research and Development Organisation

Q10. In the context of international groupings, the term 'Quad' (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) precisely refers to a grouping of which one of the following sets of countries?

  • A. Australia, India, Japan and the United States
  • B. India, Japan, South Korea and the United States
  • C. Australia, India, Indonesia and the United States
  • D. India, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States