Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

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📍 The Question

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

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✅ Correct Answer: (d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

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🎯 Theme of the Question

Polity & Governance
Centre–State Powers
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
Federalism | Minor Minerals | Rule-making Authority

This question tests statutory federal balance, not the Seventh Schedule directly. UPSC wants clarity on who defines and who regulates minor minerals.

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🧠 Classroom Explanation

Let us examine both statements strictly with reference to the MMDR Act, 1957.

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🔹 Statement I ❌

Claim: State Governments have no power to make rules for grant of concessions for minor minerals.

📌 Legal Position:

• Section 15(1) of the MMDR Act, 1957 explicitly empowers State Governments to make rules for:
  • Grant of quarry leases
  • Mining leases
  • Other mineral concessions
    in respect of minor minerals within their territories.

✔️ This is a clear statutory delegation to States.

📌 Verdict:
❌ Statement I is incorrect

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🔹 Statement II ✅

Claim: Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals.

📌 Legal Position:

• Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act, 1957 defines “minor minerals”.
• It authorises the Central Government to declare any mineral as a minor mineral by official notification.

✔️ Thus:

• Centre decides classification (what is a minor mineral)
• States regulate concessions (how it is extracted)

📌 Verdict:
✅ Statement II is correct

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🔑 Core Constitutional–Statutory Logic (UPSC Favourite)

Aspect	Authority
Defining / notifying minor minerals	Central Government
Making rules for concessions of minor minerals	State Governments

This division preserves uniform classification with decentralised regulation.

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📊 Final Assessment

Statement	Status
Statement I	❌ Incorrect
Statement II	✅ Correct

👉 Correct answer: (d)

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🧩 Prelims Trap Alert

• ❌ “Minerals are in State territory, so Centre has no role” → Wrong
• ❌ “Centre controls everything related to minerals” → Wrong
• ✔️ Centre defines, States regulate (minor minerals) → Correct framework

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🧠 One-Line Memory Hook

“Centre names the minor mineral, State grants the mining.”

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🧭 IAS Monk Whisper

Federalism in India often hides in Acts, not in headlines. UPSC rewards those who read the fine print.