UPSC Prelims 2020 Question:

Consider the following minerals

1. Bentonite 
2. Chromite 
3. Kyanite 
4. Sillimanite
   
   

In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

Explanation:

• As per the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957), “minor minerals” means building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand other than sand used for prescribed purposes, and any other mineral which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a minor mineral;
  
  

• State Governments have complete powers for making Rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals and levy and collection of royalty on minor minerals.
  
  

• Bentonite is a highly plastic clay containing not less than 85% clay mineral, montmorillonite. It has inherent bleaching and is also known as bleaching clay. It is declared a ‘minor mineral’. So, point 1 is not correct.
  
  
• Major minerals are those specified in the first schedule appended in the MMDR Act. There is no official definition for “major minerals” in the MMDR Act, 1957. Hence, whatever is not declared as a “minor mineral” may be treated as the major mineral. Examples of major minerals include coal, manganese ore, iron ore, bauxite, limestone, kyanite, sillimanite, baryte and chromite. So, points 2, 3 and 4 are correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.

Subject: Geography | Mineral Resources