Q. Consider the following statements:
I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.
II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.
III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III
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Answer & Explanation:
✅Correct Answer: (c) I and III only
Statement I: “India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.”
✅ Correct.
India officially joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in June 2023. The MSP is a strategic international initiative led by countries such as the United States, Australia, and Japan to secure supply chains of critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies. These minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements.
India’s participation aims to strengthen its access to critical minerals needed for manufacturing EV batteries, solar panels, semiconductors, etc., as part of its energy transition and Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy.
Statement II: “India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.”
❌ Incorrect.
While India has identified 30 critical minerals (as of 2023), it is not resource-rich in all of them. India is significantly deficient in many key critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and some rare earth elements. These are crucial for modern electronics and green technologies, but India depends largely on imports for them.
Thus, while India may have some reserves of a few critical minerals like graphite, bauxite, and rare earths, the claim that it is rich in all 30 is factually wrong.
Statement III: “The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957…”
✅ Correct.
In August 2023, the MMDR Act, 1957 was amended. This amendment gave the Central Government the power to exclusively auction mining leases and composite licenses for 24 of the 30 critical minerals (such as lithium, cobalt, nickel). Earlier, this power was primarily with State Governments.
This move is aimed at ensuring faster exploration, improving private sector participation, and strengthening India’s control over critical mineral resources.
📝 Conclusion:
- Statement I ✅ Correct
- Statement II ❌ Incorrect
- Statement III ✅ Correct
➡️ Correct answer: (c) I and III only