Critical Minerals in General Studies : PYQs with Answers

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UPSC CSE PRELIMS 2026Critical Minerals

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.

Select the answer using the code given below:

1 and 3 only

3 only

1, 3 and 4

1, 2 and 4

View Answer

Correct Answer: A — 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is accepted because REEs are widely used in advanced technologies. Statement 2 is rejected because India is not the country immediately following China in REE mining share. Statement 3 is accepted in the final answer set. Statement 4 is rejected because rare earth elements are not just a set of 13 metallic elements in the usual classification.