📘 IAS Prelims 2025 — GS-I | Q.79 | Classroom Explanation
(Geography | Resources & Economic Geography)

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📌 Question

Q.79)
Consider the following pairs :

Country	Resource-rich in
I. Botswana	Diamond
II. Chile	Lithium
III. Indonesia	Nickel

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

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✅ Correct Answer: (c) All the three

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🧑‍🏫 Classroom Explanation

This question tests static geography + current affairs linkage.
All three country–resource pairs are globally established and UPSC-standard.

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🔍 Row-wise Verification (High-Yield)

🔹 I. Botswana — Diamond ✅

• Botswana is among the world’s top diamond producers
• Diamonds contribute:
  • ~30% of GDP
  • ~80% of export earnings
• Major mines:
  • Jwaneng (one of the richest diamond mines globally)
• Recent CA:
  • Discovery of one of the largest rough diamonds (~2,492 carats) by Lucara Diamond

📌 UPSC Angle:
Resource-led growth + Africa mineral economy

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🔹 II. Chile — Lithium ✅

• Part of the famous “Lithium Triangle”:
  • Chile
  • Bolivia
  • Argentina
• Chile is:
  • 2nd largest producer of lithium
  • World’s largest copper producer
• Lithium is critical for:
  • EV batteries
  • Energy storage
  • Renewable transition

📌 UPSC Angle:
Energy transition minerals + South America

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🔹 III. Indonesia — Nickel ✅

• Indonesia has:
  • Largest nickel reserves globally (~30%)
  • World’s largest nickel production
• Strategic importance:
  • Stainless steel
  • EV battery supply chains
• CA linkage:
  • Export bans on raw nickel
  • Push for downstream processing
• India linkage:
  • KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd.) exploring overseas minerals

📌 UPSC Angle:
Critical minerals + geopolitics + industrial policy

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🧠 One-Line Memory Hook (Prelims Gold)

“Diamonds in Botswana, Lithium in Chile, Nickel in Indonesia — all three shine in UPSC.”

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📍 GS Mapping

Static + Current Affairs Integration

GS Paper I

Geography: Resources & World Distribution

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