UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Critical Minerals are playing a vital role in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy

Q1. With reference to the list of critical minerals notified by the Ministry of Mines in 2023, consider the following minerals: Which of the above is/are correctly identified as critical minerals for India?

  1. Niobium
  2. Manganese
  3. Beryllium
  4. Bauxite
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q2. How many minerals were notified as 'critical minerals' for India by the Ministry of Mines in 2023?

  • A. 24
  • B. 30
  • C. 22
  • D. 41

Q3. With reference to the changes brought about by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 for critical and strategic minerals, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Prior to the amendment the auction of these critical and strategic minerals was carried out by the State Governments, whereas after the amendment it is done exclusively by the Central Government.
  2. The amendment removed six minerals, including lithium and titanium, from the list of atomic minerals, opening them to the private sector.
  3. The revenue realised from the auction of these critical mineral blocks accrues to the Central Government.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. By the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, how many minerals were omitted from the list of atomic minerals specified in Part-B of the First Schedule?

  • A. 6
  • B. 12
  • C. 24
  • D. 4

Q5. With reference to the financial architecture and duration of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It has a Government expenditure outlay of ₹16,300 crore, supplemented by an expected investment of ₹18,000 crore from public sector undertakings.
  2. Its total outlay is about ₹34,300 crore, spread over seven years from 2024-25 to 2030-31.
  3. It is to be implemented over a period of ten years extending up to 2034-35.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Under the National Critical Mineral Mission, which single agency has been entrusted with the primary mandate of carrying out 1,200 mineral exploration projects between 2024-25 and 2030-31?

  • A. Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL)
  • B. Geological Survey of India (GSI)
  • C. Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)
  • D. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)

Q7. The e-auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks, including the 7th tranche launched in March 2026, is conducted by which Union Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Coal
  • B. Ministry of Mines
  • C. Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • D. Ministry of Heavy Industries

Q8. Which of the following minerals was/were offered for auction in the 7th tranche of critical and strategic mineral blocks launched in March 2026? Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Glauconite
  2. Potash
  3. Vanadium
  4. Nickel
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q9. In which year did India join the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) as its 14th member?

  • A. 2020
  • B. 2021
  • C. 2022
  • D. 2023

Q10. As per a 2025 statement of the Government in Parliament, India's domestic production capacity of rare earth permanent magnets is targeted to reach how many tonnes by 2030?

  • A. 1,000 tonnes
  • B. 3,000 tonnes
  • C. 5,000 tonnes
  • D. 10,000 tonnes

Q11. The Mineral Security Partnership (MSP), launched in 2022 to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from concentrated sources, is led by which country?

  • A. Australia
  • B. United States
  • C. Japan
  • D. European Union

Q12. Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act as amended in 2023, an Exploration Licence (EL) primarily permits the holder to undertake which of the following?

  • A. Full-scale mining and commercial extraction of the discovered mineral
  • B. Reconnaissance and prospecting operations for specified critical and deep-seated minerals
  • C. Beneficiation and processing of minerals at notified mineral parks
  • D. Large-scale mining restricted to atomic minerals