Consider the following statements:In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-c

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2018 UPSC Prelims Geography paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Geography?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Geography, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2018 question covers Minerals & Energy Resources of India topic.

Q: What is the difficulty level of this question?

This UPSC Prelims 2018 Geography question has a hard difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

Q: Where can I find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions?

You can find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions on AspirantMitraa. Browse by subject, topic, year, and difficulty level to practice effectively.

Question

Consider the following statements:In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.Rajasthan has iron ore mines.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — 3 onlyStep-by-step Solution:Statement 1 — State Governments cannot auction non-coal mines: This is incorrect. Unlike coal mines (which fall under Central Government jurisdiction), the auction of mining licences for non-coal minerals is conducted by the respective State Governments. Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and its 2015 amendment, State Governments have the authority to grant mineral concessions and conduct auctions for non-coal and non-atomic minerals. ✗Statement 2 — Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines: This is incorrect. India has gold deposits spread across several states including Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan. Both governments of Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh have auctioned gold mining blocks. Jharkhand's gold deposits are found in Singhbhum district, while AP has significant gold potential in its Nellore and Kurnool districts. ✗Statement 3 — Rajasthan has iron ore mines: This is correct. Rajasthan has iron ore deposits, particularly in the Bhilwara district. While Rajasthan is more famous for non-ferrous minerals (zinc, lead, copper — Rajasthan is India's largest zinc producer), it does have iron ore mines. ✓Why other options are incorrect:Option A (1 and 2): Both statements 1 and 2 are factually wrong.Option B (2 only): Statement 2 is incorrect — both AP and Jharkhand have gold mines.Option C (1 and 3): Statement 1 is wrong — States do have power to auction non-coal mines.Key Concept: Under India's federal structure, Mines and Minerals is a concurrent subject (List III). Coal and lignite, as well as atomic minerals, are regulated under separate Central Acts. Non-coal minerals are governed by MMDR Act with State Governments having primary auctioning authority. Major mineral-producing states: Iron ore — Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka; Coal — Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha; Gold — Karnataka (Kolar, Hutti); Bauxite — Odisha; Copper — Rajasthan; Zinc — Rajasthan (Zawar mines, world's largest zinc mine).

Consider the following statements:In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.Rajasthan has iron ore mines.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Master UPSC Prelims with Our Test Series

More Questions from Minerals & Energy Resources of India

Frequently Asked Questions

Consider the following statements:In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.Rajasthan has iron ore mines.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Master UPSC Prelims with Our Test Series

More Questions from Minerals & Energy Resources of India

Frequently Asked Questions