RAS question
Manganese is primarily used in the manufacture of:
Correct answer: (B) Steel.
Manganese is primarily used to manufacture steel and ferro-manganese alloy.
Explanation
Manganese is essential to steel-making because it removes oxygen and reduces sulphur. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) states in its chapter on Minerals and Energy Resources that manganese is mainly used to make steel and ferro-manganese alloy, and that nearly 10 kg of manganese is needed to manufacture one tonne of steel. That is why option B, steel, is correct rather than glass, copper or aluminium. NCERT also lists bleaching powder, insecticides and paints among its other uses, but these are secondary to its use in steel-making. Manganese is also important in India's mineral geography: India is among the leading producers, and Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa have major deposits.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Glass is not the primary use of manganese; manganese is mainly used to make steel and ferro-manganese alloy.
- (C) Copper is a separate metal; manganese is used as an input in steel-making, not copper manufacture.
- (D) Aluminium is not a product primarily made using manganese; manganese is used mainly in steel-making.
Concept
This question tests your understanding of metallic minerals in Indian Geography, especially the links among mineral distribution, industrial raw materials and industries. It recurs in RAS because the geography of Rajasthan and India commonly examines these links, particularly in the iron and steel industry.