Answer: (a)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are absolutely essential for advanced tech innovations. Their specific luminescent, magnetic, and electrochemical properties make them irreplaceable in Artificial Intelligence components, high-performance robotics, satellite construction, and deep space exploration gear.

Statement 2 is incorrect: China leads global REE mining by a staggering margin (holding a near-monopoly of roughly 70% of global production). However, India does not follow China in second place. The second-largest miner of rare earth elements globally is the United States (primarily through operations like the Mountain Pass mine in California), followed closely by nations like Australia and Myanmar.

Statement 3 is correct: The Government of India introduced the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025. Backed by an approved budget of ₹16,300 crore, the mission centralises efforts to discover, process, and secure domestic and foreign supply chains for 30 identified critical minerals to ensure absolute self-reliance.

Statement 4 is not correct: Rare Earth Elements are scientifically defined as a precise set of 17 metallic elements. This specific group consists of the 15 elements belonging to the Lanthanide series on the periodic table (from lanthanum to lutetium), supplemented by Scandium and Yttrium.