UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey Launch the Eighth Tranche of Auction of 20 Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks

Q1. By the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, how many minerals were inserted into Part D of the First Schedule of the MMDR Act, 1957 as 'critical and strategic minerals' reserved for auction by the Central Government?

  • A. 6
  • B. 12
  • C. 24
  • D. 30

Q2. For which one of the following critical minerals did the Union Cabinet approve royalty rates in the very first batch, along with Niobium and Rare Earth Elements (REEs)?

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

Q3. Within the approved total outlay of Rs. 34,300 crore for the National Critical Mineral Mission, the component of Rs. 18,000 crore denotes which one of the following?

  • A. Expected investment by public sector undertakings and others
  • B. Direct budgetary expenditure by the Central Government
  • C. Grants-in-aid to be released to State Governments
  • D. Committed foreign direct investment in the mineral sector

Q4. In the Eighth Tranche of the auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks, the blocks offered under the 'Second Attempt' category refer to which of the following?

  • A. Blocks that received no bids in earlier tranches and are being re-offered for auction
  • B. Blocks jointly explored by two different exploration agencies
  • C. Blocks awarded to the second-highest bidder of a previous tranche
  • D. Blocks straddling the territory of two different States

Q5. The Eighth Tranche of the auction of 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks (July 2026) was launched under the administrative aegis of which one of the following Union Ministries?

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

Q6. In which tranche of the auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks were potash blocks auctioned for the first time in India?

  • A. Tranche V
  • B. Tranche I
  • C. Tranche III
  • D. Tranche VII

Q7. In India, 'atomic minerals' are specified in Part B of the First Schedule of which one of the following statutes?

  • A. Atomic Energy Act, 1962
  • B. Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
  • C. Mines Act, 1952
  • D. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Q8. The acquisition of lithium exploration acreage in Argentina on behalf of India was undertaken exclusively by which one of the following entities?

  • A. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)
  • B. National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)
  • C. Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL)
  • D. Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL)

Q9. In the auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks conducted by the Ministry of Mines, the successful bidder is determined on the basis of which one of the following?

  • A. The highest percentage of value of mineral dispatched quoted
  • B. The highest upfront lump-sum premium offered
  • C. The lowest royalty rate demanded by the bidder
  • D. The largest committed capital investment in the block