Consider the following minerals : Bentonite Chromite Kyanite Sill

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 ?

1 and 2 only
4 only
1 and 3 only
2, 3 and 4 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2020
The correct option is D, as Chromite, Kyanite, and Sillimanite are officially designated as major minerals in India, while Bentonite is typically classified as a minor mineral.
Minerals in India are classified as ‘major’ or ‘minor’ under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. This classification impacts their regulation, such as rules for mining leases and royalty rates. The list of major and minor minerals changes based on government notifications.
As per the classification under the MMDR Act, as amended and notified periodically:
1. Bentonite: Generally classified as a Minor Mineral.
2. Chromite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
3. Kyanite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
4. Sillimanite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
Therefore, only Chromite, Kyanite, and Sillimanite among the given options are major minerals.