UPSC Prelims 2022 · GS Paper I
Question 28: Geography
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 ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Monazite is a phosphate mineral rich in rare earth elements and thorium, so statements 1 and 2 are true. It occurs in certain beach and river sands, mainly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, not along the entire Indian coast. Because of its thorium content it is a prescribed substance under the Atomic Energy Act, so only government bodies such as IREL may process or export it.
- 1. Monazite is a source of rare earth elements.
- 2. Monazite contains thorium.
- 3. It occurs in specific beach sand deposits, not the entire coast.
- 4. As a prescribed atomic substance, only government bodies handle and export it.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: It occurs in specific beach sand deposits, not the entire coast.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 2 or 4.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. Statement 3 is false: monazite is not found in all coastal sands.
- (b) Correct. Monazite yields rare earths and thorium, and handling is restricted to government bodies.
- (c) Wrong. Statement 3 is false and statements 1 and 2 are true.
- (d) Wrong. Statement 3 is false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.