Question 72 from UPSC CSE 2022 - Geography

Question

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?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1, 2, and 4 only

Strategy: - Identify Monazite as a critical source of rare earth elements and thorium.
- Validate statements 1 and 2 as reliably correct based on factual information.
- Question statement 3 due to the extreme claim 'entire Indian coastal sands,' which suggests overgeneralization and lacks precision.
- Confirm statement 4's accuracy, supported by regulatory restrictions classifying monazite as an atomic mineral that only government bodies can process or export.
- Conclude by selecting statements 1, 2, and 4 as correct.

Key Info: Monazite is a phosphate mineral that serves as a crucial source of rare earth elements (REE), including cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium. It also contains significant quantities of thorium, making it of strategic importance for India's nuclear program as a potential fuel for advanced nuclear reactors.

Monazite deposits in India are predominantly found in placer beach sand along the coastal tracts of states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra. However, its occurrence is not uniform or 'entire' across all Indian coastal sands; rich, commercially viable concentrations are localized. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is responsible for assessing these deposits.

Handling, processing, and export of monazite are tightly regulated due to its radioactive thorium content. Under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, monazite is classified as a 'prescribed substance'--only government agencies or entities licensed by the DAE, such as Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), are permitted to process or export it. This regulatory framework is in place to control strategic materials vital for defense, energy security, and compliance with international nuclear treaties.

Answer

Option A: 1, 2, and 3 only

Answer

Option C: 3 and 4 only

Answer

Option D: 1, 2, 3, and 4