Prelims · Geography · 46 questions

Minerals, energy & industry

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UPSC syllabus: “Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.” See the full syllabus →

Prelims 2018 · Q27

Hard

Consider the following statements:

1.In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.
2.Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.
3.Rajasthan has iron ore mines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) 3 only

Only statement 3 is correct. Rajasthan does produce iron ore, whereas State Governments do hold the auction of mineral concessions and both Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand have gold mines.

✗ 1. Since the 2015 amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, mineral concessions are granted by the State Governments and only through auction.
✗ 2. Jharkhand has a working private gold mine at Kunderkocha in Singhbhum East district. Andhra Pradesh has a gold mining lease in Kurnool district (Jonnagiri), so both States have gold mines, even though Karnataka produces about 99% of India's gold.
✓ 3. Rajasthan does have iron ore mines. In 2021-22 Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Jharkhand gave about 96% of India's iron ore, and the rest came from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Remember · States conduct the auction of mineral concessions (MMDR Act, 2015). Gold mines: Karnataka mainly, also Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan has iron ore.

Sources

PIB, Ministry of Mines: Government Promulgates the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015 ↗ “All mineral concessions are granted by the respective State Governments. They will continue to do so but all grant of mineral concessions would be through auctions”
Indian Minerals Yearbook 2017, Gold, Indian Bureau of Mines ↗ “Manmohan Mineral Industries Pvt. Ltd is engaged in mine production of gold at Kunderkocha, in Singhbhum East district, Jharkhand by undeground method of mining.”
Indian Minerals Yearbook 2019, Gold, Indian Bureau of Mines ↗ “Geomysore Services (India) Pvt. Ltd has been granted a mining lease for gold mining in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.”
Indian Minerals Yearbook 2022, Iron Ore, Indian Bureau of Mines ↗ “i.e., 4.29% production was reported from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2018 · Q67

Medium

With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements:

1.India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units.
2.The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Neither statement is correct. India is not a leading maker of silicon wafers; the wafers and ingots used in solar cells are still largely imported. Solar tariffs in India are found through competitive bidding, not fixed by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), which only conducts the bidding and buys the power as an intermediary.

✗ 1. Ingots and wafers, the first step of the solar supply chain, remain heavily import-dependent in India, so it is not the world's third-largest wafer maker.
✗ 2. SECI conducts tariff-based reverse bidding and acts as an intermediary procurer. The tariff is discovered by bidders under Government of India guidelines issued under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

Remember · In India solar tariffs come from competitive (reverse) auctions run by agencies like SECI; SECI does not set them. Wafer manufacturing is still import-dependent.

Sources

PIB, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy: Government extends ALMM Framework to Solar Ingots and Wafers (18 March 2026) ↗ “one step further up the solar supply chain to include the ingots and wafers, which currently remains heavily import-dependent”
Solar Energy Corporation of India: What We Do ↗ · reference work “SECI conducts tariff-based reverse bidding for grid-connected solar, wind, hybrid, round-the-clock (RTC), and Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) projects.”
PIB, MNRE: New Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding Process for Solar Power (26 August 2017) ↗ “These Guidelines have been issued under the provisions of Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003 for long term procurement of electricity”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

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Minerals, energy & industry

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Prelims 2018 · Q67

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