UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 16
Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called 'rare earth metals'. Why?
- China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export.
- Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country.
- Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C
Explanation: Rare-earth supply concerns in 2012 reflected Chinese export restrictions combined with their growing use in advanced technologies.
Statement/Item-wise Analysis:
1: Correct - China dominated production and imposed restrictions on exports around that period.
2: Incorrect - Rare-earth deposits occur in many other countries, including India, the USA and Brazil.
3: Correct - Magnets, display equipment and other electronics require rare-earth elements.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - omits correct item 3.
B: Incorrect - includes incorrect item 2; omits correct item 1.
C: Correct - includes exactly the valid statements/items and excludes the invalid ones.
D: Incorrect - includes incorrect item 2.