Rare Earths are not just elements; they are foundational inputs that act like 'seeds of technology'. Elaborate.

Rare earth elements involve 15 lanthanides and two other minerals which are important in many frontier technologies. REE magnets in renewable energy defence, etc. REE: the needs of technology - (1) Raw Materials - REE are inputs for manufacturing solar PV panel, batteries etc. (Example - Lithium-based batteries, Silicon based solar PV). (2) Need for energy transition - Renewable energy, electric vehicles need rare earth elements. (3) Importance in national security - Defence equipments, aircrafts, UAVs, etc. Critical is frontier technologies as an input - Semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem require REE. However, mining and implementation of REE are saddled with challenges - Weaponisation of supply chain - China 60% production, 80% processing of REE barred exports of REE imagels. Dispersed availability across the globe buff mainly in China. Processing and mining of REE is costly and technology intensive. Way forward - India Rare Earth Limited IREL exploitation projects. KABIL (Khanij bidesh limited). NMDR act - auctions of blocks. International collaboration Argentina. There can help towards VIKSI - bharat vision.

Critical is frontier technologies as input - Semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem require REE. However, mining and implementation of REE are saddled with challenges - (1) Weaponisation of supply chain - China 60% production, 20% processing of REE barred exports of REE imagels. (2) Dispersed availability across the globe buff mainly in China. (3) Processing and mining of REE is costly and technology intensive. Way forward - India Rare Earth Limited IREL exploitation projects. KABIL (Khanij bidesh limited). NMDR act - auctions of blocks. International collaboration Argentina. There can help towards VIKSI - bharat vision.