Manganese, essential for steel production, is mainly produced in which Indian states?

Explanation

Manganese is linked with steel because the Indian Bureau of Mines describes it as an essential input in steelmaking. It improves steel's strength, toughness, hardness and workability and acts as a deoxidiser and desulphuriser. The Indian Minerals Yearbook 2019 records manganese ore production of 2,820 thousand tonnes in 2018-19. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha accounted for major shares of this production, while Karnataka was also a producing state. India's major manganese areas include the Balaghat-Chhindwara-Jhabua belt in Madhya Pradesh, the Bhandara-Nagpur belt in Maharashtra, the Sundargarh-Ganjam-Koraput areas in Odisha and the Srikakulam-Visakhapatnam belt in Andhra Pradesh. Manganese is used in steel metallurgy both as ore and as ferromanganese. Therefore, among the options, only the group of Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka matches India's principal manganese-producing geography. Andhra Pradesh is also a recognised producer, but it is not part of the offered correct group.

Why the other options are wrong

• (A) Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are outside India's principal manganese-producing belts. Rajasthan has only minor manganese resources and is not part of the principal producing group.
• (C) Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal leave out the core manganese-producing states, especially Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha, while the correct group also includes Karnataka.
• (D) Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura form a north-eastern group, whereas India's principal manganese-producing geography lies in central, western, eastern and southern states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Karnataka.

Concept

This question tests the economic geography of India's mineral belts, especially the distribution of non-ferrous and alloy minerals. It connects physical geography with industry, steel production and the distribution of mineral resources across states, which is why this relationship is relevant to RAS.

Source

• Indian Bureau of Mines, Indian Minerals Yearbook 2019: Manganese Ore

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