UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre extends bid timeline for rare earth magnet scheme

Q1. The Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM) is operationalised by which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • B. Ministry of Mines
  • C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • D. Ministry of Steel

Q2. Under the REPM scheme, what is the maximum number of beneficiaries to be selected for setting up integrated magnet manufacturing facilities?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Ten

Q3. With reference to the bidding process under the REPM scheme, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

  1. Bids are invited through a global competitive tender.
  2. Selection follows the Least Cost System (LCS).
  3. Bids are submitted online through the Central Public Procurement Portal.
  4. Selection is done through a single-stage, financial-bid-only process.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q4. The Ministry of Heavy Industries extended the REPM scheme bid submission deadline from its original date of 28 May 2026. By approximately how long was this deadline extended?

  • A. One month
  • B. Three months
  • C. Six months
  • D. Two weeks

Q5. With reference to the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was launched in 2025 for the period up to 2030-31.
  2. It covers exploration, mining, processing and recycling of critical minerals.
  3. It has a total outlay of Rs.34,300 crore over seven years.
  4. The REPM magnet manufacturing scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Mines as a component of NCMM.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q6. The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is implemented under which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • C. Ministry of Coal
  • D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q7. The neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnet was first developed in which year and by whom?

  • A. In 1984, independently by General Motors and Sumitomo Special Metals
  • B. In 1966, by the U.S. Air Force Materials Laboratory
  • C. In 1970, by Philips
  • D. In 1990, by Hitachi Metals

Q8. Which one of the following is the strongest commercially available type of permanent magnet?

  • A. Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB)
  • B. Samarium-cobalt (SmCo)
  • C. Alnico
  • D. Ferrite (ceramic)

Q9. With reference to China's 2025 rare earth export controls, which of the following statements is/are correctly identified?

  1. China imposed export controls on seven heavy rare earth elements and related magnets in April 2025.
  2. Neodymium metal itself was placed on China's direct export control list in April 2025.
  3. NdFeB magnets containing terbium and dysprosium fall within the scope of the restrictions.
  4. In October 2025, China introduced licensing requirements for products manufactured using Chinese rare-earth technology.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. In the context of India's rare earth resources, the term 'monazite' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A phosphate mineral occurring in beach and coastal sands that is the principal source of rare-earth elements and thorium in India
  • B. A lithium-bearing pegmatite ore mined mainly for battery-grade lithium
  • C. An iron-titanium oxide used chiefly as a source of titanium dioxide pigment
  • D. A cobalt- and nickel-bearing polymetallic nodule found on the deep-ocean floor