UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DOMESTIC EXPLORATIONAND AVAILIBILITY OF CRITICAL MINERALS
Q1. Which one of the following is the sole national agency mandated to explore spodumene and niobium-tantalum bearing pegmatites in India?
- A. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)
- B. Geological Survey of India (GSI)
- C. IREL (India) Limited
- D. Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL)
Q2. With reference to the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), consider the following statements:
1. It was established under the Atomic Energy Commission in 1949 and traces its origin to the Rare Minerals Survey Unit of the Geological Survey of India.
2. Its exploration of lithium-bearing spodumene from pegmatites has been conducted in two phases — the first during 1979-1998 and the second since 2013.
3. It functions as a constituent unit of the Ministry of Mines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was established under the Atomic Energy Commission in 1949 and traces its origin to the Rare Minerals Survey Unit of the Geological Survey of India.
- Its exploration of lithium-bearing spodumene from pegmatites has been conducted in two phases — the first during 1979-1998 and the second since 2013.
- It functions as a constituent unit of the Ministry of Mines.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. The MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 omitted six minerals from the list of 'atomic minerals' (Part B of the First Schedule) and re-classified them among critical and strategic minerals (Part D). Which one of the following was NOT among the minerals so omitted from Part B?
1. Titanium-bearing minerals
2. Zirconium-bearing minerals
3. Uranium-bearing minerals
4. Lithium-bearing minerals
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly listed as omitted?
- Titanium-bearing minerals
- Zirconium-bearing minerals
- Uranium-bearing minerals
- Lithium-bearing minerals
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 3 and 4
Q4. With reference to the changes brought about by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 for critical minerals, consider the following statements:
1. The Central Government is empowered to exclusively auction mineral concessions for minerals listed in Part D of the First Schedule.
2. Revenue accruing from such auctions of critical minerals is retained entirely by the Central Government.
3. Royalty rates for lithium, niobium and rare earth elements were notified in October 2023.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Central Government is empowered to exclusively auction mineral concessions for minerals listed in Part D of the First Schedule.
- Revenue accruing from such auctions of critical minerals is retained entirely by the Central Government.
- Royalty rates for lithium, niobium and rare earth elements were notified in October 2023.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. With reference to the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), consider the following statements:
1. It was approved with a government expenditure of ₹16,300 crore and an expected PSU investment of ₹18,000 crore.
2. Its total anticipated outlay of ₹34,300 crore is spread over seven years from FY 2024-25 to 2030-31.
3. Under the Mission, the entire outlay is earmarked solely for domestic exploration, with no provision for acquiring mineral assets abroad.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was approved with a government expenditure of ₹16,300 crore and an expected PSU investment of ₹18,000 crore.
- Its total anticipated outlay of ₹34,300 crore is spread over seven years from FY 2024-25 to 2030-31.
- Under the Mission, the entire outlay is earmarked solely for domestic exploration, with no provision for acquiring mineral assets abroad.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. In the context of the National Critical Mineral Mission, KABIL — the entity tasked with acquiring critical mineral assets abroad — is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A joint venture of Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Mines
- B. A directorate under the Department of Atomic Energy
- C. A statutory regulator for critical-mineral auctions
- D. An inter-ministerial committee that fixes royalty rates
Q7. The largest inferred (G3) lithium resource established in India so far — about 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore — is located in which one of the following districts?
- A. Reasi
- B. Mandya
- C. Yadgiri
- D. Nalgonda
Q8. Consider the following statements about India's lithium resource discoveries:
1. The ~1,600 tonne lithium resource in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district was established by the Atomic Minerals Directorate.
2. The ~5.9 million tonne lithium resource at Salal-Haimna, Reasi, was established by the Geological Survey of India.
3. Both the Karnataka and the Reasi lithium resources were established at the detailed (G1) exploration stage.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The ~1,600 tonne lithium resource in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district was established by the Atomic Minerals Directorate.
- The ~5.9 million tonne lithium resource at Salal-Haimna, Reasi, was established by the Geological Survey of India.
- Both the Karnataka and the Reasi lithium resources were established at the detailed (G1) exploration stage.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. Among the critical mineral resources reported by AMD to Parliament (as on 28 January 2026), which one had the largest established in-situ resource by tonnage?
- A. Titanium-bearing minerals
- B. Zircon
- C. Rare earth oxides
- D. Thorium oxide
Q10. With reference to the critical mineral resource figures reported by AMD (as on 28 January 2026), consider the following mineral-resource pairings:
1. Rare Earth Oxides — about 7.23 million tonnes
2. Thorium oxide — about 1.18 million tonnes
3. Monazite — about 38 million tonnes
4. Zircon — about 761.97 million tonnes
Which of the above is/are correctly matched?
- Rare Earth Oxides — about 7.23 million tonnes
- Thorium oxide — about 1.18 million tonnes
- Monazite — about 38 million tonnes
- Zircon — about 761.97 million tonnes
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 3 and 4
Q11. Consider the following statements regarding critical minerals and their applications:
1. Rare earth permanent magnets are essential inputs for electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators.
2. Monazite is significant as a beach-sand source of both rare earths and thorium.
3. Zircon is chiefly valued as the principal ore mineral of lithium for electric-vehicle batteries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Rare earth permanent magnets are essential inputs for electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators.
- Monazite is significant as a beach-sand source of both rare earths and thorium.
- Zircon is chiefly valued as the principal ore mineral of lithium for electric-vehicle batteries.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. Consider the following statements about monazite and thorium in India:
1. Monazite, a phosphate mineral found in beach-sand deposits, contains both rare earths and thorium.
2. Thorium recovered from monazite is envisaged as the fuel for the third stage of India's nuclear power programme.
3. AMD's estimate of 13.15 million tonnes of monazite corresponds to roughly 5.9 million tonnes of thorium oxide.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Monazite, a phosphate mineral found in beach-sand deposits, contains both rare earths and thorium.
- Thorium recovered from monazite is envisaged as the fuel for the third stage of India's nuclear power programme.
- AMD's estimate of 13.15 million tonnes of monazite corresponds to roughly 5.9 million tonnes of thorium oxide.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3