2026 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

Question 95: Geography

Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct ?

  1. 1.Modern technological innovations including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and space exploration extensively utilise Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
  2. 2.China has the highest share in mining of REEs followed by India.
  3. 3.The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to establish a robust framework for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector.
  4. 4.Rare Earth Elements are a set of 13 metallic elements.

Select the answer using the code given below :

a1 and 3 only
b3 only
c1, 3 and 4
d1, 2 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Rare earth elements are used in electronics, AI hardware, robotics, defence and space technology, so statement 1 is right. The National Critical Mineral Mission, launched in 2025, builds a framework for self-reliance in critical minerals, so statement 3 is right. China dominates REE mining, followed by countries such as the US, Myanmar and Australia, not India, so statement 2 is wrong. There are 17 rare earth elements (15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium), not 13, so statement 4 is wrong.

  • 1. REEs are widely used in AI hardware, robotics and space technology.
  • 2. China leads REE mining, but India is not second.
  • 3. The National Critical Mineral Mission was launched in 2025 for self-reliance.
  • 4. There are 17 rare earth elements, not 13.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: REEs are widely used in AI hardware, robotics and space technology.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 4 is not correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 4.

    What you needed to know: There are 17 rare earth elements, not 13.

Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.

This follows UPSC’s provisional key; the final key could change it.

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) Right: statements 1 and 3 are correct.
  • (b) Incomplete: statement 1 is also correct.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 4 is incorrect, as there are 17 REEs.
  • (d) Wrong: statements 2 and 4 are incorrect.

Only the provisional key (27 May 2026) was found; the final key replaces it when found.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.