Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct? 1. Modern technological innovations including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and space exploration extensively utilise Rare Earth Elements (REEs). 2. China has the highest share in mining of REEs followed by India. 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. Rare Earth Elements are a set of 13 metallic elements.

Statement 1 is correct as REEs (like neodymium, dysprosium) are crucial in modern technologies including AI hardware, robotics, EVs, space exploration, defense, and electronics. Statement 3 is correct as the Union Cabinet approved the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in January 2025 to ensure self-reliance in critical minerals sector. Statement 2 is incorrect: while China is indeed the largest producer of REEs (over 60% of global production), India is NOT the second largest — countries like USA, Myanmar, and Australia rank ahead of India in REE production. Statement 4 is incorrect because Rare Earth Elements comprise 17 metallic elements (15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium), not 13. Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.