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 ?

Explains that regulation of mines and minerals is a legal/administrative matter (Central frames rules; states own minerals), implying ‘official designation’ would be found in government statutes or state lists.

A student could check the Mines and Minerals regulatory acts or individual state notified lists of 'major' vs 'minor' minerals to see whether bentonite appears as a major mineral.

Gives a classification/count of minerals in India (fuel, atomic, metallic, non‑metallic) and total number produced, indicating there exists an official taxonomy of mineral types.

A student could locate the official government taxonomy or list of 'non‑metallic' minerals and see if bentonite is included and how it is categorized (major/minor).

Provides concrete lists of minerals found in regional mineral belts (e.g., Southern, Western, South‑Western belts), showing that authoritative sources enumerate minerals by region.

A student could compare such authoritative regional/mineral‑belt lists or government mineral‑production tables to check for bentonite’s mention and relative importance.

States India is fairly rich in non‑metallic minerals and points to mapped geographical distributions, suggesting bentonite — a non‑metallic clay — could be part of these categories.

A student could consult non‑metallic mineral inventories or distribution maps to see whether bentonite occurrences are recorded and whether it is treated as a major mineral.

Defines a mineral as a natural substance with definite chemical/physical properties, which frames how official lists classify minerals (by distinct identity and economic use).

A student could use this definition to verify whether bentonite meets official criteria used in government lists and thus whether it could be designated 'major'.