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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
The correct answer is Option 4 (2, 3 and 4 only). This classification is based on the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which categorizes minerals into 'Minor' and 'Major'.
- Bentonite (1): In 2015, the Government of India notified 31 minerals, including Bentonite, as minor minerals. This shift transferred the administrative and rule-making powers regarding these minerals to the respective State Governments.
- Chromite (2), Kyanite (3), and Sillimanite (4): These remain classified as major minerals. Chromite is a critical strategic mineral used in stainless steel production. Kyanite and Sillimanite are high-alumina refractory minerals essential for industrial furnaces.
Since Bentonite is a minor mineral and the others are major minerals, Option 4 is the only correct choice. Understanding this distinction is vital as major minerals are governed by Central Government regulations, whereas minor minerals fall under State jurisdiction.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a 'Wolf in Sheep's Clothing' question. It looks like static Geography (Mineral Resources), but it is actually a Policy/Legal question based on the MMDR Act notifications. Standard geography books list occurrence, not legal status. The key was knowing the 2015 Government notification that shifted 31 minerals (including Bentonite) to the 'Minor' category.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"10. Minor Mineral Bentonite Gujarat, Rajasthan"
Why this source?
- The passage is from MOSPIās EnviStats-India (official government statistical publication).
- It explicitly lists Bentonite under the heading 'Minor Mineral', showing its official classification.
- The entry names states (Gujarat, Rajasthan), indicating a mineral inventory context rather than an exam question.
- The passage is from MOSPIās EnviStats-India (official government statistical publication).
- It explicitly lists Bentonite under the heading 'Minor Mineral', showing its official classification.
- The entry names states (Gujarat, Rajasthan), indicating a mineral inventory context rather than an exam question.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 14.11 Coal, Coal Mines Act 2015 and MMDR Act 2015 > p. 427
Strength: 5/5
āIntroduction: In the federal structure of India, the "Regulation of mines and mineral development" falls under the Union List. Accordingly, the Central Government frames rules and regulation regarding the development and extraction of minerals but it has entrusted the respective state governments with mining related activities except in case of Coal, Petroleum & Natural gas and atomic minerals. The State Governments are the owners of minerals located within the boundary of the State concerned and have the authority to collect "taxes/ royalty" on mineral rights. The Central Government is the owner of the minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of India.ā
Why relevant
Explains that regulation of mines and minerals is a legal/administrative matter (Central frames rules; states own minerals), implying āofficial designationā would be found in government statutes or state lists.
How to extend
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.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > 2. Metallic Minerals > p. 5
Strength: 4/5
āMetallic minerals constitute the second most important group of minerals after fossil fuels. These minerals provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industry, and thereby help the process of industrialisation and urbanisation. India has a substantial reserve of these minerals (Fig. 7.3).
India is a producer of about 95 minerals of which 3 are fuel minerals, 3 atomic minerals, 10 metallic, 23 non-metallic minerals and 55 minerals.ā
Why relevant
Gives a classification/count of minerals in India (fuel, atomic, metallic, nonāmetallic) and total number produced, indicating there exists an official taxonomy of mineral types.
How to extend
A student could locate the official government taxonomy or list of 'nonāmetallic' minerals and see if bentonite is included and how it is categorized (major/minor).
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Mineral Belts of India > p. 3
Strength: 4/5
āā¢ S.No.: 3; Name of the Belt: The Southern Belt; Region: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.; Minerals Found: Gold, iron ore, chromite, manganese, lignite, mica, bauxite, gypsum, asbestos, dolomite, ilmenite, china-clay, and limestone; Features: ā¢ S.No.: 4; Name of the Belt: The Western Belt; Region: Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.; Minerals Found: Non-ferrous metals like copper, lead, zinc, uranium, mica, manganese, salt, asbestos, building stonnes, precious stonnes, mineral oil, and natural gas.; Features: ā¢ S.No.: 5; Name of the Belt: The South Western Belt; Region: Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala; Minerals Found: Iron ore, ilmenite, zircon, monazite sands, garnet, china clay, bauxite, mica, limestone, and soapstone.; Features: ā¢ S.No.: 6; Name of the Belt: The Himalayan Belt; Region: ; Minerals Found: ; Features: ā¢ S.No.: 7; Name of the Belt: The Indian Ocean; Region: Continental shelf of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal; Minerals Found: Mineral oil and natural gas, seabed also contains high grade nodules (at depth of 4000 m) of manganese, phosphate, barium, aluminium, silicon, iron, titanium, sodium, potassium, chromium, monazite, ilmenite, magnetite, and garnet; Features: The following (Table 7.2) provides the details on production and value in crores for the various minerals in India.ā
Why relevant
Provides concrete lists of minerals found in regional mineral belts (e.g., Southern, Western, SouthāWestern belts), showing that authoritative sources enumerate minerals by region.
How to extend
A student could compare such authoritative regional/mineralābelt lists or government mineralāproduction tables to check for bentoniteās mention and relative importance.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Non-Metallic Minerals > p. 22
Strength: 3/5
āIndia is fairly rich in the non-metallic minerals also. The geographical distribution of some of the important non-metallic minerals has been shown in (Fig. 7.4).ā
Why relevant
States India is fairly rich in nonāmetallic minerals and points to mapped geographical distributions, suggesting bentonite ā a nonāmetallic clay ā could be part of these categories.
How to extend
A student could consult nonāmetallic mineral inventories or distribution maps to see whether bentonite occurrences are recorded and whether it is treated as a major mineral.
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES > p. 53
Strength: 2/5
āIndia is endowed with a rich variety of mineral resources due to its varied geological structure. Bulk of the valuable minerals are products of pre-palaezoic age (Refer: Chapter 2 of Class XI, Textbook: "Fundamentals of Physical Geography" and are mainly associated with metamorphic and igneous rocks of the peninsular India. The vast alluvial plain tract of north India is devoid of minerals of economic use. The mineral resources provide the country with the necessary base for industrial development. In this chapter, we shall discuss the availability of various types of mineral and energy resources in the country. A mineral is a natural substance of organic or inorganic origin with definite chemical and physical properties.ā
Why relevant
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).
How to extend
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'.
Explains that regulation of mines and minerals is a legal/administrative matter (Central frames rules; states own minerals), implying āofficial designationā 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, nonāmetallic) and total number produced, indicating there exists an official taxonomy of mineral types.
A student could locate the official government taxonomy or list of 'nonāmetallic' 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, SouthāWestern belts), showing that authoritative sources enumerate minerals by region.
A student could compare such authoritative regional/mineralābelt lists or government mineralāproduction tables to check for bentoniteās mention and relative importance.
States India is fairly rich in nonāmetallic minerals and points to mapped geographical distributions, suggesting bentonite ā a nonāmetallic clay ā could be part of these categories.
A student could consult nonāmetallic 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'.
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS
With reference to the mineral resources of India, consider the following pairs:
| Mineral | 90% Natural sources in |
|---|---|
| 1. Copper | Jharkhand |
| 2. Nickel | Orissa |
| 3. Tungsten | Kerala |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?