UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH RESERVES AND MAGNET MANUFACTURING
Q1. Rare earth elements are conventionally divided into light (LREE) and heavy (HREE) sub-groups. With reference to this classification, consider the following elements:
1. Dysprosium
2. Cerium
3. Yttrium
4. Neodymium
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as heavy rare earth elements?
- Dysprosium
- Cerium
- Yttrium
- Neodymium
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q2. Within the rare earth group, yttrium is conventionally classified as a HEAVY rare earth element principally because —
- A. it occurs in ores together with the heavier lanthanides and its ionic radius closely resembles them
- B. it has the highest atomic number among all the 17 rare earth elements
- C. it is radioactive and always found intergrown with thorium
- D. it is the only rare earth element that is not a lanthanide
Q3. As per the Atomic Minerals Directorate's assessment of India's rare earth resources, consider the following occurrences:
1. Kerala — beach/teri-sand monazite
2. Rajasthan — hard-rock REE terrain
3. Tamil Nadu — beach-sand monazite
4. Rajasthan — beach-sand monazite
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Kerala — beach/teri-sand monazite
- Rajasthan — hard-rock REE terrain
- Tamil Nadu — beach-sand monazite
- Rajasthan — beach-sand monazite
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q4. In the official quantification of India's rare earth resources, the figure of about 7.23 million tonnes refers to —
- A. the in-situ Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) equivalent contained in the monazite resource
- B. the total tonnage of monazite mineral occurring in India's beach sands
- C. the quantity of rare earth metal already refined and stockpiled by IREL
- D. India's annual rare earth oxide production capacity
Q5. Which one of the following statements best describes Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL)?
- A. A joint venture of NALCO, HCL and MECL mandated to acquire and develop critical mineral assets overseas
- B. A Department of Atomic Energy undertaking that mines and refines monazite within India
- C. The sole statutory authority empowered to auction all critical mineral blocks in India
- D. A Ministry of Heavy Industries body set up to manufacture sintered rare earth magnets
Q6. In India's institutional set-up for rare earths, which one of the following is the constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy specifically mandated for exploration of rare-earth-bearing minerals?
- A. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)
- B. IREL (India) Limited
- C. Geological Survey of India
- D. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)
Q7. With reference to the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), consider the following statements:
1. It was approved with a total outlay of the order of Rs.34,300 crore over a seven-year horizon.
2. It envisages launching over a thousand exploration projects for critical minerals.
3. It is implemented under the Ministry of Mines.
4. Its mandate is confined to mining alone and it excludes downstream processing and recycling.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It was approved with a total outlay of the order of Rs.34,300 crore over a seven-year horizon.
- It envisages launching over a thousand exploration projects for critical minerals.
- It is implemented under the Ministry of Mines.
- Its mandate is confined to mining alone and it excludes downstream processing and recycling.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q8. The National Critical Mineral Mission was approved with a total outlay of approximately how much over its seven-year horizon?
- A. Rs.34,300 crore
- B. Rs.16,300 crore
- C. Rs.18,000 crore
- D. Rs.7,280 crore
Q9. The creation of Dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu was announced through which one of the following?
- A. The Union Budget 2026-27
- B. The MMDR Amendment Act, 2023
- C. The Cabinet note approving the National Critical Mineral Mission
- D. The 2019 charter establishing KABIL
Q10. Comparing the position after the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 with the earlier regime, consider the following statements:
1. The 2023 amendment empowered the Central Government to exclusively auction the 24 critical and strategic minerals placed in Part D of the First Schedule.
2. It introduced a new mineral concession — the Exploration Licence — which did not exist under the earlier framework.
3. Following the amendment, rare earth elements were removed entirely from the list of auctionable minerals.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 2023 amendment empowered the Central Government to exclusively auction the 24 critical and strategic minerals placed in Part D of the First Schedule.
- It introduced a new mineral concession — the Exploration Licence — which did not exist under the earlier framework.
- Following the amendment, rare earth elements were removed entirely from the list of auctionable minerals.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. Which one of the following statements most accurately captures India's current position in the rare earth sector?
- A. India holds among the world's largest rare earth resources yet imports the bulk of its rare earth permanent magnets, chiefly from China
- B. India possesses virtually no domestic rare earth resources and is entirely dependent on imported ore
- C. India is self-sufficient in rare earth permanent magnets and is a net exporter to China
- D. India dominates global rare earth refining while China leads only in mining
Q12. The 'Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets', aimed at building indigenous magnet capability for EV motors and defence systems, is implemented by which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Heavy Industries
- B. Ministry of Mines
- C. Department of Atomic Energy
- D. Ministry of Earth Sciences