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?
- A.1 and 3 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, 1 and 3 only. Sand is a minor mineral, and the states both grant concessions for minor minerals and make the rules for them, including rules against illegal mining.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 defines minor minerals in Section 3(e) as building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand other than sand used for prescribed purposes, and any other mineral the Central Government notifies. Under Section 15, state governments make rules for granting quarry leases, mining leases and other concessions for minor minerals, and they collect the royalty. Section 23C empowers the states to frame rules to prevent illegal mining, transport and storage of minerals, and states have set up their own squads and check-posts under such rules.
B is wrong because statement 2 is false: rule-making for minor minerals lies with the states, not the Centre. C is wrong because statement 1 is also true. D is wrong because it includes the false statement 2.
Exam tip: MMDR Act 1957: Section 3(e) defines minor minerals; Section 15, state rules; Section 23C, illegal mining rules.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following is applicable to collision-coalescence process of precipitation?
- A.Clouds which do not extend beyond the freezing level
- B.Clouds which extend beyond the freezing level
- C.All types of clouds
- D.Cirrocumulus cloud
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Collision-coalescence is the way rain forms in warm clouds, whose tops stay below the level where water freezes. In such clouds all droplets are liquid.
Read the full explanation →Identify the type of drainage pattern on the basis of the given characteristics :
1. It represents the most common pattern of streams and their tributaries
2. It occurs in areas of uniform rock type and regular slope
3. A map, or aerial photograph, shows a pattern like the veins on a leaf— smaller streams join the main stream at an acute angle
Select the correct answer.
- A.Dendritic
- B.Radial
- C.Trellis
- D.Centripetal
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A pattern that looks like the branches of a tree or the veins of a leaf, formed on uniform rock with a regular slope, is dendritic.
Read the full explanation →The Research Design and Standards Organization is the R&D wing of which one of the following organizations ?
- A.Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
- B.Indian Space Research Organization
- C.Indian Railways
- D.Defence Research and Development Organization
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The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) is the sole research and development wing of the Ministry of Railways. RDSO is headquartered at Lucknow.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following Indian States has recorded negative growth population as per Census 2011?
- A.Manipur
- B.Mizoram
- C.Tripura
- D.Nagaland
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Nagaland was the only Indian state whose population fell between 2001 and 2011; its decadal growth rate in Census 2011 was about −0.6 per cent.
Read the full explanation →Piecing together the puzzle of geologic time to create and analyze historical maps of the Earth is known as
- A.paleoclimatology
- B.paleogeomorphology
- C.paleolithology
- D.paleogeography
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Paleogeography is the study of the Earth's geography in the geological past, and its main product is a set of maps showing where continents, oceans, mountains and shorelines lay at different times.
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