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?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 2 and 4 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4


Answer: (b)

Explanation:

  • Monazite is a reddish-brown phosphate mineral containing rare earth metals, such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium. It also contains thorium, which is considered a “prescribed substance” under the Atomic Energy Act of 1962. However, monazite does not occur naturally in all Indian coastal sands.
  • It is an atomic mineral that is found in the coastal sands of only three districts: Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanyakumari.
  • Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a wholly-owned Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India (GOI) under DAE, is the only entity permitted to produce and process monazite for domestic use and export.
  • Monazite has a high concentration of thorium (up to 500 ppm) and is a radioactive mineral used for the production of thorium. It also has the potential to be used as fuel in the nuclear power system.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

 

Consider the following statements:                                                                   The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The validity of a law placed in the Ninth Schedule cannot be examined by any court and no judgement can be made on it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:                                               

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Consider the following statements:                                                         The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The validity of a law placed in the Ninth Schedule cannot be examined by any court and no judgement can be made on it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:                                               

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