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. UPSC GS Paper-I PYQs 368 Which of the statements given above are correct ?

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YESPYQ · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: 1, 2 and 4 only. Statement 1 and 2 are correct : In India, monazite serves as the primary source of rare earth elements and thori- um. Rare earth metals comprise a group of 17 elements known for their lustrous, silvery-white appearance and soft, heavy me- tallic properties. China dominates global rare earth production, contributing around 60-70 % of the total output. These elements play a critical role in the production of electron- ics, magnets, and batteries. Monazite, abundant in India’s coastal sands, is rich in rare earth elements and thorium, a radioactive material. Thorium is crucial for India’s three stage nuclear en- ergy program. Statement 3 is incorrect : Monazite is not found in the entire Indian coastal sands. While it is found along most of the south- ern Indian coast, particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Orissa, it does not occur throughout the entire coastline. Statement 4 is correct : As per Atomic Energy (Radiation Pro- tection) Rules 2004, Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a whol- ly owned Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India (GO

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