With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements :
- 1.Sand is a 'minor mineral' according to the prevailing law in the country.
- 2.State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.
- 3.State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct: ordinary sand is a minor mineral under Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act, 1957. Statement 2 is wrong: under Section 15, State Governments make the rules for minor mineral concessions. Statement 3 is correct: Section 23C lets States frame rules to prevent illegal mining. So 1 and 3 only.
Watch for: Students assume mineral rule-making must be central, since the MMDR Act is a central law.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Wrong because rule-making for minor minerals lies with the States, not the Centre.
- C. Wrong because statement 2 is false and statement 1 is true.
- D. Wrong because statement 2 is false.
Source to check: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, Sections 3(e), 15 and 23C; Ministry of Mines website
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.