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?

Answer: B. Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct; Statement 3 is wrong. Statement 1 is CORRECT. MONAZITE is a major source of RARE EARTH ELEMENTS (REEs). It is a phosphate mineral typically containing cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium and other REEs. India's coastal beach sands of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have substantial monazite deposits. Statement 2 is CORRECT. Monazite contains substantial THORIUM (about 5-12% ThO2). India has the world's largest thorium reserves precisely because of monazite-rich beach sands. India's three-stage nuclear power programme relies on thorium for its eventual third stage. Statement 3 is WRONG. Monazite does NOT occur in the ENTIRE Indian coastal sands. It is concentrated in specific coastal pockets (Chavara in Kerala, Manavalakurichi in Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra and Odisha coasts). Much of India's coastline does not have economic monazite concentrations. Statement 4 is CORRECT. Monazite is classified as a PRESCRIBED SUBSTANCE under the Atomic Energy Act 1962. Only GOVERNMENT ENTITIES (notably Indian Rare Earths Limited / IREL) can mine, process or export monazite due to its thorium content (a nuclear material). Source: Atomic Energy Act 1962 / IREL / Department of Atomic Energy.