{"id":1258,"date":"2025-10-05T14:48:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T09:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/?p=1258"},"modified":"2025-10-03T15:30:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T10:00:40","slug":"mineral-security-partnership-critical-minerals-upsc-cse-prelims-2025-solved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/mineral-security-partnership-critical-minerals-upsc-cse-prelims-2025-solved\/","title":{"rendered":"Mineral Security Partnership and Critical Minerals: UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Solved"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Q. Consider the following statements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.<br>II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.<br>III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[A] I and II only<br>[B] II and III only<br>[C] I and III only<br>[D] I, II and III<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Answer with Explanation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2705 <strong>Correct Option: [C] I and III only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Statement I is correct<\/strong> \u2192 India joined the <strong>Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)<\/strong> in <strong>June 2023<\/strong> as its 14th member. MSP is a U.S.-led initiative to strengthen and diversify global supply chains of critical minerals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Statement II is incorrect<\/strong> \u2192 India is <em>not resource-rich<\/em> in all 30 identified critical minerals. India largely depends on imports for <strong>Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, REEs (Rare Earth Elements)<\/strong> etc. To address this, the <strong>National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM, 2025)<\/strong> has been launched.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Statement III is correct<\/strong> \u2192 The <strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957<\/strong> was amended in <strong>2023<\/strong> to empower the <strong>Central Government<\/strong> to exclusively auction <strong>mining leases and composite licenses<\/strong> for <strong>24 critical minerals<\/strong> (Lithium, Niobium, Rare Earths, etc.) listed in the new <strong>Part-D of First Schedule<\/strong> of the Act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd0e <strong>About Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"543\" src=\"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-1024x543.webp\" alt=\"chart showcasing the largest rare earth reserves\" class=\"wp-image-1260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-1024x543.webp 1024w, https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-300x159.webp 300w, https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-768x408.webp 768w, https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-1536x815.webp 1536w, https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals.webp 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Launched in <strong>2022<\/strong> by the <strong>United States<\/strong> with partner nations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aims to ensure <strong>secure, transparent, and sustainable supply chains<\/strong> for critical minerals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus minerals \u2192 <strong>Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite, Rare Earths<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Members include: US, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, UK, and India (14th member).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also See:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/business-responsibility-sustainability-report-upsc-prelims-question-2025\/\">Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report: UPSC Prelims Question<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\uddfe <strong>What are Critical Minerals?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Minerals that are <strong>essential for economic growth, clean energy, defense, and high-tech manufacturing<\/strong> but face <strong>supply chain vulnerability<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examples \u2192 Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Rare Earth Elements, Titanium, Gallium, Germanium, Vanadium.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udccc <strong>Major Producers Globally<\/strong>: China, Chile, Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcca <strong>India\u2019s List of 30 Critical Minerals (2023)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Categorised Usage<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Category<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Examples<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Applications<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>India\u2019s Status<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Battery Minerals<\/strong><\/td><td>Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite<\/td><td>Electric Vehicle batteries, Energy storage<\/td><td>Mostly import-dependent<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>High-tech \/ Strategic Metals<\/strong><\/td><td>Gallium, Germanium, Indium, Beryllium, Niobium, Tantalum<\/td><td>Semiconductors, Electronics, Aerospace, Defense<\/td><td>Limited reserves<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Rare Earth Elements (REEs)<\/strong><\/td><td>Lanthanides, Yttrium, Scandium<\/td><td>Magnets for Wind Turbines, Missiles, Drones<\/td><td>Low production, import reliance<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Industrial Minerals<\/strong><\/td><td>Potash, Phosphorous, Titanium, Molybdenum<\/td><td>Fertilizers, Alloys<\/td><td>Moderate availability<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Traditional Resources<\/strong><\/td><td>Copper, Chromium, Silicon<\/td><td>Steel, Solar panels, Electrical<\/td><td>Partially available<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2696\ufe0f <strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 \u2013 2023 Amendment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Added <strong>Part-D<\/strong> to First Schedule \u2192 24 critical minerals reserved for <strong>Central auctioning<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus \u2192 <strong>Lithium-bearing minerals, Niobium, Rare Earths<\/strong> (not containing Uranium &amp; Thorium).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promotes <strong>sustainable mining<\/strong>, deep-seated exploration, offshore mining.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Established <strong>mineral exchanges<\/strong> and renamed <strong>NMET \u2192 NMEDT (National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also See:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/income-of-rbi-upsc-prelims-2025\/\">Sources of Income of RBI: UPSC Prelims 2025 Question<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\ude80 <strong>National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM, 2025)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1259\" style=\"width:570px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Objective \u2192 Achieve <strong>self-reliance in critical minerals<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geological Survey of India (GSI)<\/strong> to conduct <strong>1,200 exploration projects (2024\u201331)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agencies like <strong>KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd.)<\/strong> to secure overseas mineral assets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set up a <strong>Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals (CECM)<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India&#8217;s&nbsp;Ministry of Mines&nbsp;has recognized seven institutions as Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the&nbsp;National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM)&nbsp;to drive research and innovation in critical minerals.&nbsp;These CoEs include&nbsp;four<mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#cf2e2e\" class=\"has-inline-color\"> IITs\u2014Bombay, Hyderabad, ISM Dhanbad, and Roorkee\u2014and three research labs: CSIR-IMMT Bhubaneswar, CSIR-NML Jamshedpur, and NFTDC Hyderabad.<\/mark>&nbsp;Each CoE operates as a hub, collaborating with industry and academic &#8220;spokes&#8221; to advance R&amp;D across the critical mineral value chain.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udccc <strong>Usage of Critical Minerals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Solar Energy<\/strong> \u2192 Silicon, Tellurium, Indium, Gallium for PV cells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wind Energy<\/strong> \u2192 REEs (Dysprosium, Neodymium) for turbine magnets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Electric Vehicles (EVs)<\/strong> \u2192 Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt for Li-ion batteries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defense &amp; Aerospace<\/strong> \u2192 Rare Earths, Titanium, Beryllium in fighter jets, drones, and missiles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Semiconductors<\/strong> \u2192 Gallium, Germanium, Indium for chip manufacturing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\udde0 <strong>Mnemonic to Remember Critical Mineral Usage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>&#8220;SEED Power&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>S<\/strong> \u2192 Solar (Silicon, Indium, Gallium)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>E<\/strong> \u2192 EVs (Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>E<\/strong> \u2192 Energy storage (Graphite, Lithium)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>D<\/strong> \u2192 Defense (REEs, Titanium, Beryllium)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also See: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/alternative-investment-funds-upsc-prelims-2025\/\">Alternative Investment Funds \u2013 UPSC Prelims 2025<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcda <strong>Comparison: India vs Global in Critical Minerals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Aspect<\/th><th>India<\/th><th>Global Leaders<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Lithium<\/strong><\/td><td>Limited resources<\/td><td>Chile, Australia, Argentina<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cobalt<\/strong><\/td><td>Import-dependent<\/td><td>DRC, Indonesia<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Nickel<\/strong><\/td><td>Minor reserves<\/td><td>Indonesia, Philippines<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Rare Earths<\/strong><\/td><td>Small capacity<\/td><td>China dominates (&gt;60%)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Exploration Projects<\/strong><\/td><td>1,200 projects planned (2024\u201331)<\/td><td>Well-developed in Australia, Canada<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcdd <strong>Prelims Practice Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q1.<\/strong> Which of the following are part of India\u2019s identified list of 30 critical minerals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lithium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Potash<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uranium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cobalt<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>[A] 1, 2 and 4 only<br>[B] 1 and 3 only<br>[C] 2, 3 and 4 only<br>[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Answer: [A] 1, 2 and 4 only<\/strong> (Uranium is excluded as it is regulated separately under atomic energy laws).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q2.<\/strong> With reference to the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was launched by BRICS countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It focuses on strengthening supply chains of critical minerals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is a founding member of this partnership.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Which of the above is\/are correct?<br>[A] 1 and 2 only<br>[B] 2 only<br>[C] 2 and 3 only<br>[D] 1, 2 and 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Answer: [B] 2 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also See:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/key-government-directorates-under-department-of-revenue-upsc-prelims-2025-q3-set-a\/\">Key Government Directorates under Department of Revenue<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Consider the following minerals: (2020)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bentonite&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chromite&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kyanite&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sillimanite&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In India, which of the above is\/are officially designated as major minerals?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(A) 1 and 2 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(B) 4 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(C) 1 and 3 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(D) 2, 3 and 4 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ans: D&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called \u2018rare earth metals\u2019. Why? (2012)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(A) 1 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(B) 2 and 3 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(C) 1 and 3 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(D) 1, 2 and 3&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ans: C<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements: (2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sand is a \u2018minor mineral\u2019 according to the prevailing law in the country&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the pwers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Coentral Government.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(a) 1 and 3 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(b) 2 and 3 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(c) 3 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ans: (a)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. What is\/are the purpose\/purposes of \u2018District Mineral Foundations\u2019 in India? (2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Authorizing State Governments to issue licenses for mineral exploration&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Select the correct answer using the code given below:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(a) 1 and 2 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(b) 2 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(c) 1 and 3 only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ans: (b)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2753 FAQs on Critical Minerals and MSP<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1759483599185\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Q1. Why are critical minerals important for India?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>They are essential for <strong>energy transition, defense, electronics, EVs, and food security<\/strong>, but India is heavily dependent on imports for many.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1759483613629\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Q2. How does the Minerals Security Partnership help India?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It enables <strong>collaboration, technology transfer, and investment opportunities<\/strong> in securing supply chains of Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, and REEs.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1759483626244\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Q3. How is NCMM different from MMDR Act amendments?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>NCMM<\/strong> \u2192 Policy framework for <strong>exploration, processing, and overseas tie-ups<\/strong>.<br \/><strong>MMDR Amendment (2023)<\/strong> \u2192 Legal empowerment of Centre to <strong>auction critical minerals<\/strong> and regulate mining.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1759483644791\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Q4. Does India have a monopoly in any critical mineral?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>No. India has moderate reserves of some minerals (like rare earths, titanium), but <strong>depends on imports<\/strong> for most battery and semiconductor minerals.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Q. Consider the following statements: I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1261,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,10,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prelims-2025","category-economics","category-upsc-prelims"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-upsc-prelims-2025-solved-paper.jpg",2048,2048,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-upsc-prelims-2025-solved-paper-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-upsc-prelims-2025-solved-paper-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-upsc-prelims-2025-solved-paper-768x768.jpg",768,768,true],"large":["https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-upsc-prelims-2025-solved-paper-1024x1024.jpg",1024,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-upsc-prelims-2025-solved-paper-1536x1536.jpg",1536,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-upsc-prelims-2025-solved-paper.jpg",2048,2048,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Varun Jain","author_link":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/author\/pushkaragarwal\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Q. Consider the following statements: I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1258"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1264,"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258\/revisions\/1264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currentnewstimes.com\/upscpsir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}