SHIKHAR Mains 2023 Day 31, 17 July Model Answer English

Q1: विश्व में दुर्लभ भू तत्वों (रेयर अर्थ एलीमेंट्स) के वितरण पर प्रकाश डालते हुए उनका आर्थिक महत्व भी स्पष्ट करें। (8 अंक)

      While highlighting the distribution of rare earth elements in the world also explain their economic significance. (8 Marks)

Approach:

·       Define rare earth elements in introduction.

·       Explain the distribution of rare earth elements around the world.

·       Briefly mention about their distribution in India.

·       Explain the economic significance of rare earth elements

·       Conclude appropriately.

Answer:

The rare earth elements (REE) are a set of seventeen metallic elements. These include the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table plus scandium and yttrium. The distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) is widespread in the earth's crust, but they are typically not found in concentrated deposits, making them difficult and expensive to extract. The rare earths' unique properties are used in a wide variety of applications.

Distribution of Rare Earth Elements (REE) in the world:

·       China has the largest reserves (38%) of rare earth elements, with 44 million tons in reserves and an estimated 70 per cent share of the global production. Production centres of rare earth are located in Baotou, Inner Mangolia, Jiangxi and Sichuan provinces of China.

·       Vietnam (19%) and Brazil (18%) have the second and third largest reserves of rare earth metals yet their production is low. In Vietnam deposits are found in border with China whereas major deposits of Brazil are located in Araxa, Serra Verde, Pitinga, etc.

·       Russia (10%) and India (6%) have the fourth and fifth largest reserves respectively with fifth and sixth largest production. Major production of REE in Russia comes from Murmansk region.

·       Sixth and seventh largest reserves of REE are found in Australia (3.5%) and USA (1.3%) respectively. USA is the second largest producer, whereas Australia is fourth largest producer after Myanmar. Mount Weld region in Australia and Mojave Desert in California, USA are major producing regions of respective countries.

Distribution in India:

In India, monazite is the principal source of rare earths. The total reserve of monazite in India is 12.47 million tonnes. The major deposits containing REE are found in:

·       Chavara barrier beach and Eastern Extension, Kollam district, Kerala.

·       Manavalakurichi beach sand deposit, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

·       Bhimunipatnam beach sand deposit, Andhra Pradesh.

·       Gopalpur beach sand deposit, Odisha.

Other than that, West Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya and Barmer district of Rajasthan have been identified with encouraging values for REE.

Economic significance of Rare Earth Elements:

·       Manufacturing permanent magnets is the single largest and most important end use for REEs. Alloys of neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm) can be used to create strong magnets that withstand high temperatures, making them ideal for modern electronics such as cell phones, televisions, computers, electric vehicles, wind turbines, jet aircraft and many other products.

·       REEs are also used widely in high technology and “green” products. Because of their unique physical, chemical, magnetic, luminescent properties, these elements help to make many technological advantages such as performing at reduced energy consumption, greater efficiency, miniaturization, speed, durability and thermal stability.

o   In recent years, their demand is particularly on rise in energy efficient gadgets (green technology) which are faster, lighter, smaller and more efficient.

·       Cerium finds application in polishing of glass items such as lenses, display screens of LCD panels.

·       Mixed salts of cerium group of elements are used in medicines, non-irritating antiseptic dressings, waterproofing agents etc.

·       Scandium is used mainly in aluminium alloys for sporting goods.

·       Erbium used as fibre optic has emerged as major tool for communication technology.

·       Europium is being used as a way to identify legitimate bills for the Euro bill supply and to dissuade counterfeiting.

REE finds important application on most of the emerging technologies and hence India needs to explore and increase the production of these minerals to reduce its dependence on a handful of countries, including China.

Q2: भारत के तट के साथ पाए जाने वाले महासागरीय संसाधनों की सूची बनाइए। इन संसाधनों के कुशल उपयोग में आने वाली चुनौतियों की भी चर्चा कीजिए। (12 अंक)

       Enlist the ocean resources found along the coast of India. Also discuss the challenges in efficient utilisation of these resources. (12 Marks)

Approach: 

• The introduction highlights the importance of the Indian ocean.
• Enlist the resources found along the coast of India.
• Discuss the challenges in efficient utilization of these resources.
• Conclude with a way forward.

Answer:

The Indian Ocean is a major conduit for international trade, especially energy. Its littoral is vast, densely populated, and comprises some of the world’s fastest growing regions. The ocean is also a valuable source of fishing and mineral resources. 

Resources in coastal regions of India:

Mineral resources: 

• Nodules containing nickel, cobalt, and iron, and massive sulphide deposits of manganese, copper, iron, zinc, silver, and gold present in sizable quantities on the sea bed.
• Indian Ocean coastal sediments are important sources of titanium, zirconium, tin, zinc, and copper. Rare earth elements are present, even if their extraction is not always commercially feasible.

Energy resources: 

• The main energy resources present in the Indian Ocean are petroleum and gas hydrates. Petroleum products mainly include the oil produced from offshore regions. Gas hydrates are unusually compact chemical structures made of water and natural gas.
• Tidal Energy: Like conventional hydroelectric dams, power plants are built on river estuaries and hold back huge amounts of tidal water twice a day which generates electricity when released. India is expected to have 9,000 MW of tidal energy potential. Total identified potential of Tidal Energy is about 12455 MW, with potential locations identified at Khambhat & Kutch regions, and large backwaters, where barrage technology could be used.
• Offshore wind energy: Offshore wind in India has a potential of approximately 70 GW mainly of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat coasts. Eight zones each of the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been identified as potential shore zones. 

• Wave Energy: This is generated by the movement of a device either floating on the surface of the ocean or moored to the ocean floor.

Fishery Resource : 

• India has about 8118 Km. of coastal line and nearly 2 million Sq Km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and half a million Sq Km. of Continental Shelf. From these marine resources, India has an estimated fisheries potential of 4.41 million tonnes.

Challenges:

• Uncertainty of the marine environment and commercial scale risks like- corrosion of materials due to the salinity of seawater, offshore maintenance difficulties, the environmental impact on landscapes and the marine ecosystem and competition from other marine activities such as fishing.
• The Indian coastal regions are faced with the common pressing challenges of increasing urbanisation, industrialization and migration, resulting in over-exploitation of natural marine resources.
• It has been about 40 years since India started efforts to assess and harness tidal power but it is yet to achieve any solid breakthrough in its development even as the country made rapid strides in boosting other sources of renewable power. “There is potential for tidal energy in India, but India is yet to develop a technology or major project for tidal energy,
• One of the reasons, according to the ministry, for not pursuing tidal power is “exorbitant cost”. India had started two tidal power projects of 3.75 megawatts and 50 megawatts installed capacity in 2007 and 2011 in West Bengal and Gujarat respectively. But both these projects were dropped because of exorbitant costs. 
• Multi-dimensional challenges from climate change impacts such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events. Climate change impacts like erosion and inundation could cause loss of coastal habitats such as mangroves, thereby affecting the reproduction of species.
• The densely populated littoral is also vulnerable to natural or environmental disasters. For ex., the 2004 tsunami that killed 228,000 people. Managing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations is a challenge.

India needs to transform from the conventional economy to the Blue economy for efficient, environmentally sensitive and effective utilisation of marine resources. The concept of blue economy based on the idea of a healthy ocean supporting productive and sustainable ecosystems, is bringing about an integration of ocean activities with the principles of social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and innovative, dynamic business models.