UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Mines ministry announce ₹5,000 cr. incentive scheme

Q1. Under SASCI 2023-24, which one of the following was the single largest component, allocated among States in proportion to their share in central tax devolution under the 15th Finance Commission?

  • A. The Part-I general capital investment allocation of ₹1 lakh crore
  • B. The urban planning reforms component of ₹15,000 crore
  • C. The mining-sector incentive component of ₹5,000 crore
  • D. The road safety enforcement component of ₹3,000 crore

Q2. The ₹5,000 crore incentive mechanism for mining-sector reforms under SASCI (FY 2026-27) is operationalised through Operational Guidelines issued exclusively by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Ministry of Coal
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q3. The Unified Mining Portal, integration with which is incentivised under the FY 2026-27 mining component of SASCI, falls under the administrative purview of which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Ministry of Coal
  • C. Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q4. The MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2023 empowered the Central Government to exclusively auction leases for critical & strategic minerals listed in Part D of the First Schedule. Which of the following are correctly identified as such Part D minerals?

  1. Lithium
  2. Cobalt
  3. Coal
  4. Graphite
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. The ₹1,500 crore Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme, launched as a component of the National Critical Mineral Mission, is implemented by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q6. Under the NAKSHA land-records modernisation milestones of SASCI, incentive assistance of about ₹1,050 crore was recommended for how many States/UTs?

  • A. 16
  • B. 22
  • C. 24
  • D. 28

Q7. With reference to the constitutional framework for regulation of mines and mineral development in India, which of the following are correctly identified?

  1. Regulation of mines and mineral development is covered by Entry 54 of the Union List, to the extent declared by Parliament to be expedient in public interest.
  2. Entry 23 of the State List covers regulation of mines and mineral development, subject to the provisions of the Union List.
  3. The distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States is governed by Article 246 of the Constitution.
  4. Royalty on major minerals is collected by the Central Government.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. The ₹56,415 crore capital investment assistance approved for 16 States under SASCI 2023-24 was sanctioned by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
  • B. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Ministry of Mines
  • D. NITI Aayog