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 :
Detailed Explanation:
Explanation:
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Statement 1 is Correct: Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are essential for modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, space exploration, and defense equipment.
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Statement 2 is Incorrect: China is the largest producer of REEs, but the United States is the second-largest producer. India is not the second-largest producer globally.
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Statement 3 is Correct: The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in January 2025 to strengthen domestic production, secure supply chains, and reduce import dependence.
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Statement 4 is Incorrect: Rare Earth Elements consist of 17 elements—15 lanthanides along with scandium and yttrium—not 13 elements.
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Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct, making Option A the correct answer.
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals
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REEs are a group of 17 metallic elements used in high-tech industries, clean energy technologies, electronics, and defense systems.
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Critical minerals are minerals essential for economic security and strategic industries, with limited supply sources and high import dependence.
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