UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MMDR Amendment to bring long term Stability in Major Minerals Sector

Q1. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 attributes how many distinct adverse consequences to the uneven imposition of taxes and other levies by State Governments in the absence of reasonable limitations?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Seven

Q2. Under the amendments made to the MMDR Act, 1957 in 2025 — which permit a one-time extension of the leased area for such deposits — what are 'deep-seated minerals'?

  • A. Minerals whose deposits occur below 200 metres from the surface
  • B. Minerals whose deposits lie below the local water table and require continuous dewatering to work
  • C. Minerals whose deposits can be worked only by underground methods and not by opencast mining
  • D. Minerals whose deposits occur in offshore areas beyond the limit of territorial waters