RAS question
Which mineral is Rajasthan the largest producer of in India?
Correct answer: (D) Marble and sandstone.
Rajasthan is India’s leading producer of marble and sandstone, a major building-stone group.
Explanation
Rajasthan’s mining profile is defined more by building stones than by metallic ores such as iron ore, manganese or copper. The Rajasthan Foundation’s economy page states that the state accounts for 90% of India’s marble, slate and sandstone production and also lists high reserves of marble resources, limestone and sandstone. Option D is therefore correct: marble and sandstone. Rajasthan is India’s largest producer of marble, sandstone and other building stones, while also leading in lead-zinc, wollastonite and selenite. The decisive mineral pair is “marble and sandstone”, because Rajasthan Foundation links Rajasthan’s production dominance to those stones specifically.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Iron ore is wrong because Odisha, not Rajasthan, is India’s largest iron ore producer.
- (B) Manganese is wrong because Odisha and Maharashtra lead manganese production, so Rajasthan is not the answer.
- (C) Copper is wrong because Rajasthan has copper, but it is not the largest producer overall.
Concept
Rajasthan’s mineral-resource geography is especially important for the state’s dominance in building stones. Mineral production, reserves and state-wise economic geography recur in RAS because they are compact, high-yield factual areas.