Question 28 from UPSC CSE 2018 - Geography

Question

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

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 3 only

Strategy: - Focus on understanding state powers in mineral auctions and regional mineral geography.
- **Statement 1**: Ruled out. State governments possess the authority to auction non-coal mineral blocks under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.
- **Statement 2**: Factually incorrect. Both Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand have documented gold deposits and have conducted gold mine auctions.
- **Statement 3**: Confirmed as correct. Rajasthan is known to have iron ore mines.
- **Conclusion**: Only Statement 3 is accurate.

Key Info: Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), state governments are empowered to grant mining leases and conduct auctions for non-coal major minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, and gold. Coal blocks, in contrast, operate under a different system, primarily governed by the central government due to nationalization and strategic interests.

Andhra Pradesh is known to have significant gold mineralization, notably in the Ramagiri area. Jharkhand also contains gold deposits, particularly in the Singhbhum Shear Zone, and has conducted gold mine auctions.

Rajasthan possesses important iron ore deposits, especially in the Bhilwara and Udaipur districts. The state also features other metals and minerals like zinc, lead, and copper. Beyond these states, India's major gold mining regions include Karnataka (with the Kolar and Hutti mines) and Chhattisgarh.

The MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, further streamlined the process of mineral auctions by state governments, enhancing transparency and state revenues.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3

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?

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?