RAS question
Which state is the largest producer of manganese in India?
Correct answer: (A) Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of manganese ore in India among the states listed for the completed production years shown by the Indian Bureau of Mines.
Explanation
Madhya Pradesh is the correct answer because the Indian Bureau of Mines production table for manganese ore places it ahead of the other listed states in the completed years covered. Madhya Pradesh contributed 30% of India's manganese ore production in 2022-23, followed by Maharashtra at 27% and Odisha at 23%. The Indian Bureau of Mines, Statistical Summary for Important Minerals (Dec-24) gives the same ordering in quantity terms for 2022-23: Madhya Pradesh recorded 855.9 thousand tonnes, Maharashtra 751.1 thousand tonnes, Odisha 644.2 thousand tonnes, and Karnataka 344.7 thousand tonnes. It also shows Madhya Pradesh narrowly ahead in 2023-24, with 1040.4 thousand tonnes against Maharashtra's 1033.0 thousand tonnes.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Karnataka is a manganese-producing state, but the IBM table lists its 2022-23 output far below Madhya Pradesh's, so it is not the largest producer.
- (C) Odisha is a major producer, but the IBM table places it behind Madhya Pradesh for the relevant completed-year production comparison.
- (D) Maharashtra is a close second in the IBM 2023-24 completed-year data and second in the 2022-23 production share comparison, but it does not overtake Madhya Pradesh in that completed-year comparison.
Concept
This tests the Indian economic geography theme of mineral production and state-wise distribution. RAS often asks such questions because minerals link physical geography with industry, resource regions, and current economic facts.