UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH CORRIDORS
Q1. With reference to the Dedicated Rare Earth Corridors announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, consider the following States:
1. Odisha
2. Andhra Pradesh
3. West Bengal
4. Tamil Nadu
Which of the above States are correctly identified as hosting the Rare Earth Corridors?
- Odisha
- Andhra Pradesh
- West Bengal
- Tamil Nadu
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q2. In the context of the Union Budget 2026-27, the term 'Rare Earth Corridor' is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A dedicated geographic cluster for integrated mining, processing, research and manufacturing of rare earth elements
- B. An export-processing zone reserved exclusively for duty-free export of finished rare earth magnets
- C. A strategic government stockpile of imported rare earth oxides maintained on the pattern of the strategic petroleum reserve
- D. A cross-border transit route negotiated with partner countries for the shipment of rare earth ores
Q3. IREL (India) Limited, which runs the Rare Earth Extraction Plant feeding the corridor initiative, functions as a Public Sector Undertaking under which one of the following?
- A. Department of Atomic Energy
- B. Ministry of Mines
- C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
- D. Ministry of Earth Sciences
Q4. Consider the following statements about the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM):
1. It was approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025 with a seven-year horizon extending to 2030-31.
2. Its total outlay of Rs.34,300 crore comprises Government expenditure of Rs.16,300 crore and expected investment of Rs.18,000 crore from PSUs and others.
3. Following the Mission's launch the identified list of critical minerals was reduced from 30 to 24.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025 with a seven-year horizon extending to 2030-31.
- Its total outlay of Rs.34,300 crore comprises Government expenditure of Rs.16,300 crore and expected investment of Rs.18,000 crore from PSUs and others.
- Following the Mission's launch the identified list of critical minerals was reduced from 30 to 24.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. The selection of beneficiaries for setting up 6,000 MTPA of integrated sintered rare earth permanent magnet capacity through global competitive bidding is carried out under the authority of which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Heavy Industries
- B. Ministry of Mines
- C. Department of Atomic Energy
- D. Ministry of Steel
Q6. Consider the following statements regarding the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM):
1. Its total financial outlay is Rs.7,280 crore.
2. It provides a sales-linked incentive of Rs.6,450 crore over five years.
3. Its target capacity of 6,000 MTPA is to be allocated to up to five beneficiaries.
4. It provides a capital subsidy of Rs.1,200 crore.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?
- Its total financial outlay is Rs.7,280 crore.
- It provides a sales-linked incentive of Rs.6,450 crore over five years.
- Its target capacity of 6,000 MTPA is to be allocated to up to five beneficiaries.
- It provides a capital subsidy of Rs.1,200 crore.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q7. Consider the following statements about rare earth elements:
1. Neodymium is classified as a light rare earth element.
2. Dysprosium is classified as a heavy rare earth element.
3. Cerium is classified as a heavy rare earth element.
4. Terbium is classified as a heavy rare earth element.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Neodymium is classified as a light rare earth element.
- Dysprosium is classified as a heavy rare earth element.
- Cerium is classified as a heavy rare earth element.
- Terbium is classified as a heavy rare earth element.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q8. Consider the following statements about India's rare earth resource base:
1. India's monazite resources are about 13.15 million tonnes, containing an estimated 7.23 million tonnes of rare earth oxides.
2. In-situ rare earth oxide resources of about 1.29 million tonnes have been identified in hard-rock areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
3. Monazite occurs only in the beach sands of the four corridor States and nowhere else in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India's monazite resources are about 13.15 million tonnes, containing an estimated 7.23 million tonnes of rare earth oxides.
- In-situ rare earth oxide resources of about 1.29 million tonnes have been identified in hard-rock areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- Monazite occurs only in the beach sands of the four corridor States and nowhere else in India.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. Between 2022 and 2025, India met the bulk of its rare earth permanent magnet demand (about 85–90% by quantity) through imports overwhelmingly from which single country?
- A. China
- B. Japan
- C. Australia
- D. United States
Q10. The National Critical Mineral Mission, which the Rare Earth Corridors complement in pursuit of the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, is implemented under the administrative aegis of which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Mines
- B. Department of Atomic Energy
- C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
- D. Ministry of Coal