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:
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A hard Science & Technology multiple-choice question from UPSC Prelims 2026. Attempt it above, then check the correct answer and detailed explanation below.
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Correct answer: A. 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct — REEs are extensively used in AI, robotics and space technologies, and India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission in 2025. Statement 2 is wrong — China leads REE mining but is not followed by India (the USA and others rank higher in output). Statement 4 is wrong — REEs are a set of 17 elements (the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium), not 13. So 1 and 3 only — option (a).
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