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Q28·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2025

Chalk vs Clay - Permeability

GeographyGeomorphology & Earth ScienceAssertion-ReasonMediumStatic

Question

With reference to India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1.

    Monazite is a source of rare earths.

  2. 2.

    Monazite contains thorium.

  3. 3.

    Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.

  4. 4.

    In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.

Options

a

1, 2 and 3 only

b

1, 2 and 4 only

Answer
c

3 and 4 only

d

1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

Statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect.

Monazite is a major ore for rare earth elements and contains radioactive thorium. Due to its radioactive nature, its processing and export are tightly controlled and restricted solely to government bodies like Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL). However, it does not occur across the entire Indian coast; it is concentrated primarily in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

Absolute terms like "entire coastal sands" are almost always factually incorrect in geographical distributions.

Answer: (b).

Question details

Year

2025

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q28

Subject

Geography

Sub-topic

Geomorphology & Earth Science

Type

Assertion-Reason

Difficulty

Medium

Nature

Static

Source hint

Atomic Energy Act 1962 / Kerala Beach Sand Mining Ban 2022

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