Mineral and energy resources — UPSC Prelims PYQs

Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct? 1. Modern technological innovations including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and space exploration extensively utilise Rare Earth Elements (REEs). 2. China has the highest share in mining of REEs followed by India. 3. 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. 4. Rare Earth Elements are a set of 13 metallic elements. Select the answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements: I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member. II. India is resource-rich in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified. III. Parliament in 2023 amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements: Statement I: Some rare earth elements are used in the manufacture of flat television screens and computer monitors. Statement II: Some rare earth elements have phosphorescent properties. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories. Statement II: In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following pairs: Country — Resource-rich in I. Botswana — Diamond II. Chile — Lithium III. Indonesia — Nickel In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Switzerland is one of the leading exporters of gold in terms of value. Statement-II: Switzerland has the second largest gold reserves in the world. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?

About three-fourths of the world’s cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by

With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. Monazite is a source of rare earths. 2. Monazite contains thorium. 3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India. 4. In India, government bodies only can process or export monazite. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following minerals: 1. Bentonite 2. Chromite 3. Kyanite 4. Sillimanite In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

Consider the following statements: 1. Coal sector was nationalised by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi. 2. Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery basis. 3. Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now India is self-sufficient in coal products. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements: 1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country. 2. State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government. 3. The State Government has the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements: 1. In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines. 2. Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines. 3. Rajasthan has iron ore mines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What is/are the purpose/purposes of ‘District Mineral Foundations’ in India? 1. Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral- rich districts 2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations 3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licenses for mineral exploration Select the correct answer using the code given below.

In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found? 1. Cambay Basin 2. Cauvery Basin 3. Krishna-Godavari Basin Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of

In India, the steel production industry requires the import of:

Consider the following minerals: 1. Calcium 2. Iron 3. Sodium Which of the minerals given above is/are required by the human body for the contraction of muscles?

Consider the following statements: 1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds. 2. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma. 3. Dharwars are famous for petroleum. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Despite having large reserves of coal, why does India import millions of tons of coal? 1. It is the policy of India to save its own coal reserves for the future, and import it from other countries for the present use. 2. Most of the power plants in India are coal-based and they are not able to get sufficient supplies of coal from within the country. 3. Steel companies need a large quantity of coking coal which has to be imported. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?