Public Section Preview
Predicted Questions with Model Answers
Q1 (5 marks — 50 words)
Why is Rajasthan called India's mineral treasury? Name four minerals for which it is the sole or leading producer.
Model Answer (EN): Rajasthan produces 81 types of minerals and contributes ~22% of India's total mineral revenue. It is the sole producer of lead-zinc (Zawar, Udaipur), selenite, and wollastonite. It leads India in silver, gypsum (Nagaur), rock phosphate (Jhamarkotra), and marble (Makrana). This mineral diversity earns it the title of India's mineral treasury.
Q2 (5 marks — 50 words)
What is the District Mineral Foundation (DMF)? How does it benefit mining-affected communities in Rajasthan?
Model Answer (EN): The DMF is a non-profit trust established under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, in every mining-affected district. It is funded by a share of royalty paid by miners. In Rajasthan, ₹7,952 crore has been sanctioned for 19,289 works, covering health, education, drinking water, and roads under PMKKKY guidelines.
Q3 (5 marks — 50 words)
What are critical minerals? Name three such minerals with potential in Rajasthan.
Model Answer (EN): Critical minerals are materials essential for clean energy, defence, and high-tech industries, with high economic importance and significant supply-chain risk. India's National Critical Minerals Mission (2024) identified 30 such minerals. Rajasthan has strategic potential for tungsten (Degana, Pali), rare earth elements (carbonatite hosts explored by AMD), and lithium (emerging prospecting zones in Barmer-Jaisalmer geology).
Q4 (5 marks — 50 words)
Distinguish between major minerals and minor minerals in Rajasthan, giving two examples of each.
Model Answer (EN): Major minerals are regulated by the Central Government under the MMDR Act 1957; examples: zinc-lead (Zawar) and rock phosphate (Jhamarkotra). Minor minerals fall under state jurisdiction; examples: sand (river and desert) and marble chips/gravel. Rajasthan has 145 major mineral leases and over 16,962 minor mineral leases, reflecting its rich geological diversity.
Q5 (10 marks — 150 words)
Discuss the types, distribution, and industrial uses of major minerals of Rajasthan. What challenges does the mineral sector face?
Model Answer (EN): Rajasthan is India's leading mineral state, producing 81 mineral types. Key minerals and their distribution include:
Metallic minerals: Lead-zinc at Zawar (Udaipur) — India's only source, used in batteries, galvanising, and alloys. Silver as a by-product of zinc smelting at Dariba (Rajsamand). Copper at Khetri (Jhunjhunu), used in electrical wiring and machinery.
Non-metallic minerals: Rock phosphate at Jhamarkotra (Udaipur) — used in fertiliser production. Gypsum in Nagaur, Bikaner, and Barmer — used in cement, plaster, and soil amendment. Marble at Makrana (Nagaur) — world-famous building stone used in Taj Mahal.
Industrial minerals: Feldspar and ball clay in Bikaner — used in ceramics and tiles. Mica in Bhilwara-Ajmer belt — used in electronics.
Challenges: Illegal mining, environmental degradation, poor infrastructure in remote areas, dependence on royalty-based revenue without value addition, and inadequate enforcement of rehabilitation norms. The Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024 addresses these through e-auctions, GPS-based monitoring, and critical mineral promotion.
Q6 (10 marks — 150 words)
Evaluate Rajasthan's marble and stone industry with reference to its distribution, global significance, and economic contribution.
Model Answer (EN): Rajasthan accounts for nearly 90% of India's marble production and dominates the building stone industry. This sector is economically and culturally significant.
Distribution: Makrana (Nagaur) is the primary marble belt — its white crystalline marble, formed 565 million years ago, is quarried for premium construction. Other important belts include Rajnagar and Kelwa in Rajsamand, and the Udaipur marble zones. Kota stone (limestone) from the Chambal basin is widely used in flooring. Dholpur sandstone from eastern Rajasthan is used in major heritage buildings including the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Global significance: Makrana marble was used in the Taj Mahal, Victoria Memorial (Kolkata), and various international projects. It fetches a premium in export markets — Italy, UAE, and Southeast Asia.
Economic contribution: The stone industry provides direct employment to over 5 lakh workers and generates substantial export revenue. Rajasthan's stone exports crossed ₹10,000 crore annually in recent years.
Challenges include dust-related silicosis among workers, high water consumption in processing, and competition from cheaper imported marble. Government interventions include dust suppression mandates and cluster-based skilling under MSME schemes.