UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH RESERVES IN THE COUNTRY

Q1. Which agency, a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy, is the lead nodal body for exploration and augmentation of rare earth and atomic mineral resources in India?

  • A. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)
  • B. Geological Survey of India (GSI)
  • C. Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)
  • D. Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)

Q2. In the context of India's rare earth resources, monazite — the principal host mineral — is best described as a mineral that primarily contains:

  • A. Thorium (about 10% ThO2) and rare earth oxides (about 55% REO)
  • B. Yttrium and heavy rare earth elements as a phosphate
  • C. Lithium and niobium oxides
  • D. Titanium and iron oxides

Q3. The augmentation of 482.6 million tonnes of rare earth ore resources across 34 exploration projects, at various cut-off grades, has been carried out by which organisation?

  • A. Geological Survey of India (GSI)
  • B. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)
  • C. Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)
  • D. Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)

Q4. Xenotime, found in the riverine placer deposits of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, is a phosphate mineral chiefly of which elements?

  • A. Yttrium and heavy rare earth elements
  • B. Thorium and light rare earth elements
  • C. Titanium and zirconium
  • D. Lithium and beryllium

Q5. Which ministry is the lead implementing ministry for the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • C. Department of Atomic Energy
  • D. Ministry of Coal

Q6. Under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, what was the key change regarding six erstwhile atomic minerals (including lithium and niobium)?

  • A. They were delisted from the list of atomic minerals, enabling grant of concessions to the private sector through auction
  • B. They were reserved exclusively for exploration by the Department of Atomic Energy
  • C. They were reclassified as minor minerals to be regulated solely by State Governments
  • D. They were prohibited from commercial mining on environmental grounds

Q7. In value terms, the single largest use of rare earth elements is in which of the following applications?

  • A. Rare earth permanent magnets
  • B. Petroleum cracking catalysts
  • C. Glass polishing powders
  • D. Phosphors for display screens
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