UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rashtriya Khanij Chintan Shivir–2026 to be held from 8–10 January in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Q1. In which year did the Union Cabinet approve the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with a total outlay of ₹34,300 crore spread over seven years?

  • A. 2023
  • B. 2024
  • C. 2025
  • D. 2026

Q2. The following statements compare the Expert Committee's list of critical minerals with the list inserted into the MMDR Act. Consider: 1. The Expert Committee constituted by the Ministry of Mines identified 30 critical minerals in 2023, whereas 24 critical and strategic minerals were inserted in Part D of the First Schedule by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023. 2. Lithium, Cobalt and Graphite appear both in the 30-mineral Expert Committee list and in the 24-mineral Part D list. 3. Minerals listed in Part D of the First Schedule are auctioned exclusively by the State Governments, while the 30-mineral Expert Committee list is auctioned by the Centre. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Expert Committee constituted by the Ministry of Mines identified 30 critical minerals in 2023, whereas 24 critical and strategic minerals were inserted in Part D of the First Schedule by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023.
  2. Lithium, Cobalt and Graphite appear both in the 30-mineral Expert Committee list and in the 24-mineral Part D list.
  3. Minerals listed in Part D of the First Schedule are auctioned exclusively by the State Governments, while the 30-mineral Expert Committee list is auctioned by the Centre.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The Union Cabinet approved royalty rates for three critical and strategic minerals to enable their auction for the first time in the country. Which one of the following was among these three minerals?

  • A. Lithium
  • B. Cobalt
  • C. Graphite
  • D. Nickel

Q4. Consider the following provisions in the context of amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: 1. Making e-auction mandatory for the grant of mineral concessions. 2. Establishment of the District Mineral Foundation under Section 9B. 3. Setting up of the National Mineral Exploration Trust. 4. Empowering the Central Government to issue directions to States on the composition of the District Mineral Foundation. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as provisions introduced by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015?

  1. Making e-auction mandatory for the grant of mineral concessions.
  2. Establishment of the District Mineral Foundation under Section 9B.
  3. Setting up of the National Mineral Exploration Trust.
  4. Empowering the Central Government to issue directions to States on the composition of the District Mineral Foundation.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q5. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and its amendments are administered by which one of the following Union Ministries?

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

Q6. As per the original Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) guidelines, what is the minimum proportion of District Mineral Foundation funds that must be earmarked for 'High Priority' areas?

  • A. 40%
  • B. 50%
  • C. 60%
  • D. 70%

Q7. Which one of the following best describes the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) as established under the MMDR Act, 1957?

  • A. A non-profit statutory trust set up by the State Government in every district affected by mining, funded by statutory contributions from mining lease holders, for the benefit of mining-affected people and areas
  • B. A sovereign wealth fund of the Central Government that invests pooled mineral royalties in overseas critical-mineral assets
  • C. A central public sector undertaking that conducts the e-auction of mineral blocks on behalf of State Governments
  • D. A fund financed by the National Mineral Exploration Trust to carry out regional and detailed exploration of deep-seated minerals

Q8. The Rashtriya Khanij Chintan Shivir–2026, a Centre–State conclave on the mining sector, was organised by which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Coal
  • B. Ministry of Steel
  • C. Ministry of Mines
  • D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q9. The Rashtriya Khanij Chintan Shivir–2026 (8–10 January 2026) was held at which one of the following venues?

  • A. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
  • B. Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar
  • C. Yashobhoomi (India International Convention Centre), Dwarka
  • D. Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

Q10. The regulation of mines and mineral development, to the extent to which such regulation is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest, falls under which entry of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution?

  • A. Entry 23 of the State List
  • B. Entry 50 of the State List
  • C. Entry 54 of the Union List
  • D. Entry 52 of the Union List

Q11. The new mineral concession called the 'Exploration Licence', permitting reconnaissance and prospecting of deep-seated and critical minerals through auction, was introduced by which one of the following enactments?

  • A. The MMDR Amendment Act, 2015
  • B. The MMDR Amendment Act, 2021
  • C. The MMDR Amendment Act, 2023
  • D. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (original)