Home › PYQs › Indian Geography › All questions › 2026 · Rare earths
UPSC Prelims 2026 · Indian Geography · Minerals and Energy
Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct?
- Modern technological innovations including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and space exploration extensively utilise Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
- China has the highest share in mining of REEs followed by India.
- The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to establish a robust framework for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector.
- Rare Earth Elements are a set of 13 metallic elements.
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1, 3 and 4
- (d) 1, 2 and 4
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
The uses ✓ and the NCMM ✓. India is not the No. 2 miner, and there are 17 REEs.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT Rare-earth magnets (neodymium, dysprosium) drive EV motors, robots, drones and satellites; AI hardware needs them in chips and data-centre drives.
2. ✗ WRONG — India is not No. 2 China mines about 70% of the world’s REEs; next come the USA, Myanmar and Australia. India holds a large share of RESERVES (in monazite sands) but mines very little.
3. ✓ CORRECT The NCMM was approved in January 2025 for exploration, mining, processing and recycling of critical minerals.
4. ✗ WRONG — there are 17 REEs = 17 elements: the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium.
The idea
A mineral can be common in rocks yet difficult to separate into a usable material. Reserves describe identified deposits that can be worked economically; production is what mines actually extract in a year. Strong magnets and specialised materials depend on a supply chain extending well beyond the mine.
Find a deposit → Assess whether mining is feasible → Extract the ore → Separate mixed minerals → Refine individual elements → Make magnets and other components
Why the others are wrong
(b) Misses statement 1 — REEs really are central to AI, robotics and space hardware.
(c) Statement 4 is wrong — 17 elements, not 13.
(d) Accepts India as the No. 2 miner (confusing reserves with output) and the 13-element count (there are 17).
The trap
“China, followed by India” mixes up RESERVES and PRODUCTION. India has big reserves but tiny output.
Elimination technique
The rare-earth group has 17 elements, so every option containing statement 4 fails. This removes (c) and (d); the technology-use statement distinguishes (a) from (b).
Also know
Neodymium and praseodymium help make strong permanent magnets; dysprosium can improve their performance at high temperatures. Lithium and cobalt are critical minerals but are not rare earths. Recycling magnets and batteries reduces dependence on new mining, though each requires a different recovery process.
🔒 REE = 17 elements · mining: China ≫ USA, Myanmar, Australia · India: reserves in beach-sand monazite, NCMM (2025).
Solve this chapter interactively →All Indian Geography questions