Curriculum 2026โ€“27
Practice
India Clusterยท Domain Code MNRL

Mining, Minerals & Strategic Metals โ€” Critical Elements, Ore Belts & Geological Resources

India possesses a rich and varied endowment of mineral resources embedded within its ancient crystalline and sedimentary geological formations. The Peninsular shield, particularly the Chota Nagpur Plateau, Dharwar craton, and Eastern Ghats belt, hosts world-class deposits of iron ore, bauxite, manganese, mica, and chromite. In recent years, exploration priorities have shifted toward strategic and critical minerals essential for energy transition technologies, including lithium discoveries in Jammu & Kashmir and pegmatite belts in Karnataka, alongside heavy mineral beach sands rich in rare earth elements and thorium along coastal Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. Mineral extraction and concession licensing are governed by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, administered by the Ministry of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines, and Geological Survey of India to foster sustainable exploration and resource security.

Prescribed Topics & Learning Modules

Public Sample Quizzes & Solved Questions

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Question 1Critical Minerals, Lithium Reserves & Rare Earth Elements
easy

In 2023, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) announced the discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium resources in which district of Jammu & Kashmir?

Question 2Major Mineral Belts & The Chota Nagpur Plateau
easy

Which plateau region in eastern India, rich in coal, iron ore, bauxite, and mica, is commonly referred to as the 'Ruhr of India'?

Question 3Fossil Fuels, Petroleum Basins & MMDR Framework
easy

Which historic location in Assam is home to Asia's oldest operating oil refinery and the first commercial oil well drilled in India in 1889?

Question 4Critical Minerals, Lithium Reserves & Rare Earth Elements
medium

Monazite sands found along the coastal placers of Kerala, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu are a world-renowned source of which radioactive nuclear fuel element?

Question 5Major Mineral Belts & The Chota Nagpur Plateau
medium

The famous Zawar mines located in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan are the primary Indian production center for which group of minerals?

Question 6Fossil Fuels, Petroleum Basins & MMDR Framework
medium

Which river valley contains the greatest concentration of Gondwana coal deposits in India, hosting premier coalfields such as Jharia, Raniganj, and Bokaro?

Question 7Critical Minerals, Lithium Reserves & Rare Earth Elements
medium

What is the primary objective of Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), a joint venture formed by NALCO, HCL, and MECL under the Ministry of Mines?

Question 8Major Mineral Belts & The Chota Nagpur Plateau
hard

The Singhbhum Copper Belt in Jharkhand lies along a major geological dislocation zone known as the Singhbhum Shear Zone. Which key uranium mine is situated along this belt?

Question 9Fossil Fuels, Petroleum Basins & MMDR Framework
hard

Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act of 2015, what non-profit statutory trust was created in all mining-affected districts to benefit project-affected communities?

Question 10Critical Minerals, Lithium Reserves & Rare Earth Elements
hard

The Sukinda Valley in the Jajpur district of Odisha is globally recognized for holding more than 90% of India's total recoverable reserves of which strategic mineral?

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