UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH MINERALS

Question 1

Rare Earth Elements (REEs), critical to permanent magnets and defence applications, comprise how many chemical elements in total?

Accepted Answer

17

Answer

14

Answer

15

Answer

19

Question 2

In India, the extraction of rare earth elements from monazite is principally carried out by IREL (India) Limited, which functions as a Public Sector Undertaking under which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Department of Atomic Energy

Answer

Ministry of Mines

Answer

Ministry of Heavy Industries

Answer

Ministry of Earth Sciences

Question 3

With reference to monazite among India's beach sand minerals, consider the following statements:
1. Monazite is a phosphate mineral of rare earths, whereas ilmenite is a titanium-bearing beach sand mineral.
2. Unlike beach sand minerals such as zircon and garnet, monazite is classified as a 'prescribed substance' under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
3. Monazite owes its 'prescribed substance' status entirely to its thorium content, with no uranium being present in it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 4

Monazite-bearing beach sand and inland placer deposits occur across several Indian states. With reference to the following states:
1. Kerala
2. Odisha
3. Punjab
4. Andhra Pradesh
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a state with significant monazite deposits?

Accepted Answer

3 only

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 4

Question 5

The Rare Earth Permanent Magnet plant operationalised by the Department of Atomic Energy at Visakhapatnam produces approximately how many tonnes per annum of Samarium-Cobalt (SmCo) magnets for strategic sectors?

Accepted Answer

3 tonnes

Answer

30 tonnes

Answer

300 tonnes

Answer

3,000 tonnes

Question 6

With reference to IREL (India) Limited, consider the following statements:
1. IREL (India) Limited was formerly known as Indian Rare Earths Limited.
2. Besides rare earths, IREL produces beach sand minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, zircon, sillimanite and garnet.
3. IREL was incorporated as a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Mines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 7

In the context of the National Critical Mineral Mission approved with a total outlay of Rs.34,300 crore, what does the figure of Rs.16,300 crore specifically denote?

Accepted Answer

The budgetary support to be provided by the Government of India over the mission period

Answer

The investment expected to be made by Public Sector Undertakings

Answer

The amount earmarked solely for acquisition of overseas mineral assets

Answer

The incentive reserved for setting up domestic recycling facilities

Question 8

The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is administered by which one of the following ministries/departments?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Mines

Answer

Ministry of Heavy Industries

Answer

Department of Atomic Energy

Answer

Ministry of Coal

Question 9

Under the Rs.7,280 crore Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets, the component of Rs.6,450 crore is defined as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A sales-linked incentive disbursed over five years

Answer

A one-time capital subsidy for setting up facilities

Answer

A customs duty waiver on imported rare earth oxides

Answer

An export incentive on magnets shipped abroad

Question 10

The Rs.7,280 crore Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets is implemented by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Heavy Industries

Answer

Ministry of Mines

Answer

Department of Atomic Energy

Answer

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Question 11

Under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, which single authority has been exclusively empowered to auction mineral concessions for the 24 critical and strategic minerals listed in Part D of Schedule-I?

Accepted Answer

The Central Government

Answer

The concerned State Government

Answer

The Geological Survey of India

Answer

NITI Aayog

Question 12

India's imports of rare earth permanent magnets during 2022-25, meeting roughly 85-90% of demand by quantity, came predominantly from which single country?

Accepted Answer

China

Answer

Japan

Answer

Australia

Answer

United States

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH MINERALS

Q1. Rare Earth Elements (REEs), critical to permanent magnets and defence applications, comprise how many chemical elements in total?

Q2. In India, the extraction of rare earth elements from monazite is principally carried out by IREL (India) Limited, which functions as a Public Sector Undertaking under which one of the following?

Q4. Monazite-bearing beach sand and inland placer deposits occur across several Indian states. With reference to the following states: 1. Kerala 2. Odisha 3. Punjab 4. Andhra Pradesh Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a state with significant monazite deposits?

Q5. The Rare Earth Permanent Magnet plant operationalised by the Department of Atomic Energy at Visakhapatnam produces approximately how many tonnes per annum of Samarium-Cobalt (SmCo) magnets for strategic sectors?

Q7. In the context of the National Critical Mineral Mission approved with a total outlay of Rs.34,300 crore, what does the figure of Rs.16,300 crore specifically denote?

Q8. The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is administered by which one of the following ministries/departments?

Q9. Under the Rs.7,280 crore Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets, the component of Rs.6,450 crore is defined as which one of the following?

Q10. The Rs.7,280 crore Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets is implemented by which one of the following?

Q11. Under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, which single authority has been exclusively empowered to auction mineral concessions for the 24 critical and strategic minerals listed in Part D of Schedule-I?

Q12. India's imports of rare earth permanent magnets during 2022-25, meeting roughly 85-90% of demand by quantity, came predominantly from which single country?