Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct?

1. Modern technologies including AI, robotics and space exploration extensively utilise 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.
4. Rare Earth Elements are not included in critical minerals.

Select the answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 3 only
3. 1, 3 and 4
4. 1, 2 and 4

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Rare Earth Elements are widely used in modern strategic and high-technology sectors including AI, robotics, defence systems, and space exploration.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• China has the highest share in rare earth mining, but it is not followed by India. The US, Australia, and Myanmar rank higher than India in REE production.

Statement 3 is correct

• The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to strengthen domestic and global critical mineral supply chains.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• REEs are a set of 17 elements, not 13. They are also included in India’s list of 30 critical minerals.

Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy