Consider the following statements : Statement I : In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories. Statement II : In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
- (b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
- (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
- (d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, Section 3(e) empowers the Central Government to declare, by notification, which minerals are 'minor minerals' (e.g. building stone, gravel, ordinary clay and sand) — Statement II is correct.
• Statement I is not correct: Section 15 of the Act gives State Governments the power to make rules for regulating the grant of quarry leases, mining leases and other mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals, and Section 23C lets them make rules to curb illegal mining; States thus control minor minerals in their territory.
• The Centre thus defines the category, while the States regulate concessions within it.
• Hence Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
- Statement I is wrong: States do have rule-making power over minor mineral concessions.
- (b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement…
- Statement I is wrong, so both cannot be correct.
- (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
- It is Statement II that is correct and Statement I that is wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, held on 25 May 2025. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.