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GeographyMediumAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper I

What is/are the purpose/purposes of 'District Mineral Foundations' in India? 1. Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts 2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations 3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licences for mineral exploration Select the correct answer using the code given below

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.1 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3

Correct answer

B. 2 only

Explanation

The correct answer is B, 2 only. District Mineral Foundations exist to work for the people and areas affected by mining, not to promote exploration or grant licences.

District Mineral Foundations were created by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 as non-profit trusts in every district affected by mining. Their stated object is to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations. They are funded by miners, who pay a share linked to the royalty, and the money is spent under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana on drinking water, health, education, sanitation and the environment in the affected areas.

A is wrong because promoting exploration is the job of the National Mineral Exploration Trust set up by the same 2015 law. C is wrong because the power to grant leases and licences comes from the MMDR Act itself, not from these foundations. D is wrong because statements 1 and 3 are not their purposes.

Exam tip: DMF = welfare of mining-affected people; NMET = mineral exploration; both from the 2015 MMDR amendment.

Practice Questions

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Q2.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2025, GATMedium

Which of the following is/are the applied forces in mechanical weathering process? 1. Gravitational force 2. Expansion force 3. Force due to water pressure Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.1 and 2 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

Mechanical (physical) weathering breaks rocks without changing their chemistry, and all three forces drive it. Gravitational forces act as overburden pressure, load and shearing stress on rocks.

Q4.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements : 1. The Earth's magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years. 2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide. 3. When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 and 3 only
  3. C.1 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1 and 3 only

The magnetic field has flipped many times and life changed the early air, but the young Earth had almost no free oxygen.

Q5.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IHard

With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements : 1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when 'bud chip settlings' are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field. 2. When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds. 3. If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts. 4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.3 only
  3. C.1 and 4 only
  4. D.2, 3 and 4 only
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1 and 4 only

Bud chip nurseries save seed cane and tissue-culture settlings are used, but single-bud setts do worse than larger setts when planted directly.