UPSC » Polity + Economy (Minerals, Federal Powers)Consider the following statements

Polity + Economy (Minerals, Federal Powers)Consider the following statements

Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I:
In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories.

Statement II:
In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
(d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

69. निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:

कथन I :
भारत में राज्य सरकारों के पास गौण खनिजों के निष्कर्षण के बारे में रियायत देने के लिए नियम बनाने की कोई शक्ति नहीं है, भले ही ऐसे खनिज उनके अपने भूभाग में अवस्थित हों।

कथन II:
भारत में केन्द्र सरकार के पास प्रासंगिक विधि के अधीन गौण खनिजों को अधिसूचित करने की शक्ति है।

उपर्युक्त कथनों के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक सही है?

(a) कथन I और कथन II दोनों सही हैं तथा कथन II, कथन I की व्याख्या करता है
(b) कथन I और कथन II दोनों सही हैं किन्तु कथन II, कथन I की व्याख्या नहीं करता है
(c) कथन I सही है किन्तु कथन II सही नहीं है
(d) कथन I सही नहीं है किन्तु कथन II सही है

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

  • Statement I is not correct: Under Section 15 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), State Governments have the authority to make rules regarding the grant of quarry leases, mining leases, and other concessions related to minor minerals.
  • Therefore, States do possess rule-making powers concerning extraction and concessions of minor minerals located within their territories.
  • Statement II is correct: Under Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act, the Central Government has the power to declare and notify certain minerals as “minor minerals.”
  • Minerals such as ordinary sand, ordinary clay, and building stones have been notified as minor minerals by the Central Government.

Source:
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957