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UPSC Prelims 2018 · Indian Geography · Minerals and Energy
Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 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.
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) 3 only
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) 3 only
Only Rajasthan’s iron ore is right.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG States auction non-coal mineral blocks under the 2015 MMDR amendment.
2. ✗ WRONG Andhra (Ramagiri) and Jharkhand (Parasi) have gold deposits.
3. ✓ CORRECT Rajasthan has iron ore (e.g. Jaipur, Dausa, Jhunjhunu).
The idea
Mineral occurrence and the power to grant a mining concession are separate questions. A State can contain several mineral belts even if it is famous for only one. For a 2018 PYQ, apply the legal powers and State geography as of that year.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Accepts that States can’t auction non-coal mines.
(b) Accepts no gold in Andhra and Jharkhand.
(c) Accepts that States can’t auction.
The trap
States auction non-coal minerals; the Centre auctions coal.
Elimination technique
Rajasthan’s iron-ore occurrence makes statement 3 true, removing (a) and (b). States’ non-coal auction power as of 2018 makes statement 1 false, removing (c).
Also know
Khetri is a copper anchor, Zawar a lead–zinc anchor and Degana a tungsten anchor in Rajasthan. Ramagiri is associated with Andhra Pradesh gold geology, while Singhbhum is a Jharkhand mineral belt. The 2023 critical-mineral auction provisions should not be read backwards into the 2018 question.
🔒 MMDR 2015: auctions by States (non-coal); Coal Ministry auctions coal.
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