UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 7
With reference to India, consider the following statements :
- Monazite is a source of rare earths.
- Monazite contains thorium.
- Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
- In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B (1, 2 and 4 only)
Explanation: Monazite is a thorium-bearing rare-earth phosphate mineral found in selected beach placers; handling it is regulated in India because of thorium.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. True / qualifies - Monazite contains rare-earth elements such as cerium and lanthanum.
2. True / qualifies - Monazite typically carries thorium, making it strategically regulated.
3. False / does not qualify - Economic monazite concentrations occur on certain stretches of coastline, not in every Indian coastal sand.
4. True / qualifies - Processing/export of monazite is reserved for permitted Government entities under the regulatory regime.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-includes 3 even though Economic monazite concentrations occur on certain stretches of coastline, not in every Indian coastal sand.; omits 4 even though Processing/export of monazite is reserved for permitted Government entities under the regulatory regime.
B. Correct-selects exactly the correct statements/items identified above.
C. Incorrect-includes 3 even though Economic monazite concentrations occur on certain stretches of coastline, not in every Indian coastal sand.; omits 1 even though Monazite contains rare-earth elements such as cerium and lanthanum.; omits 2 even though Monazite typically carries thorium, making it strategically regulated.
D. Incorrect-includes 3 even though Economic monazite concentrations occur on certain stretches of coastline, not in every Indian coastal sand.