{"id":2041,"date":"2025-10-18T18:47:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T13:17:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readingroomz.com\/?p=2041"},"modified":"2025-12-29T15:58:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T10:28:40","slug":"major-minerals-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readingroomz.com\/te\/major-minerals-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Major Minerals in India \u2013 List, Distribution &amp; Uses"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"minor-minerals-and-major-minerals-in-india\">Minor Minerals and Major Minerals in India<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-da42a3b5a19e4a14ad3b988d3ca43cf0\" style=\"color:#0045d5\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>\u0c35\u0c3f\u0c37\u0c2f \u0c38\u0c42\u0c1a\u0c3f\u0c15<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#minor-minerals-and-major-minerals-in-india\">Minor Minerals and Major Minerals in India<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#what-are-minerals\">What Are Minerals?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#classification-major-and-minor-minerals-in-india\">Classification: Major and Minor Minerals in India<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-are-major-minerals\">What Are Major Minerals?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#list-of-major-minerals-in-india\">List of Major Minerals in India<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-are-minor-minerals\">What Are Minor Minerals?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#legal-framework-mmdr-act-1957\">Legal Framework: MMDR Act 1957<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#distribution-of-major-minerals-in-india\">Distribution of Major Minerals in India<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#importance-of-major-and-minor-minerals\">Importance of Major and Minor Minerals<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#economic-importance\">\u0c06\u0c30\u0c4d\u0c25\u0c3f\u0c15 \u0c2a\u0c4d\u0c30\u0c3e\u0c2e\u0c41\u0c16\u0c4d\u0c2f\u0c24<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#social-importance\">Social Importance<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#environmental-aspect\">Environmental Aspect<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#recent-update-2025\">Recent Update (2025)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#difference-between-major-and-minor-minerals\">Difference Between Major and Minor Minerals<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#key-government-reforms\">Key Government Reforms<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#quick-recap\">Quick Recap<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#f\">\u0c24\u0c30\u0c1a\u0c41\u0c17\u0c3e \u0c05\u0c21\u0c3f\u0c17\u0c47 \u0c2a\u0c4d\u0c30\u0c36\u0c4d\u0c28\u0c32\u0c41 (FAQs)<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760790898550\">What are the 7 major minerals in India?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791124231\">What are the 7 main types of minerals?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791159052\">What are the 12 critical minerals of India?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791195867\">What is the largest mineral found in India?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791232466\">What are officially designated major minerals in India?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791293146\">What are major minerals and minor minerals aspirants should remember?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791396530\">What is the difference between major minerals and minor minerals in India?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791486331\">Which state in India is richest in minerals?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791538598\">Which department regulates major minerals in India?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791602563\">What are the top producing states of major minerals in India?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1760791794032\">How many total major minerals are found in India?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Minerals are the&nbsp;<strong>backbone of India\u2019s industrial growth<\/strong>. Understanding&nbsp;<strong>major minerals and minor minerals in India<\/strong>&nbsp;is essential for UPSC, APPSC, SSC, and other competitive exams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/readingroomz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/major-minerals-in-india.png\" alt=\"Major Minerals in India\" class=\"wp-image-2050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/readingroomz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/major-minerals-in-india.png 1024w, https:\/\/readingroomz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/major-minerals-in-india-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-minerals\">What Are Minerals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Minerals are&nbsp;<strong>natural substances<\/strong>&nbsp;found in the Earth\u2019s crust with definite physical and chemical properties. In India, mining and mineral regulation come under the&nbsp;<strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"classification-major-and-minor-minerals-in-india\">Classification: Major and Minor Minerals in India<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>India\u2019s minerals are divided into two broad categories <strong>major minerals<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>minor minerals<\/strong>&nbsp;for governance, taxation, and management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This classification helps determine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which government (Central or State) regulates a mineral.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The royalty and lease period.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental and policy regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-major-minerals\">What Are Major Minerals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is&nbsp;<strong>no explicit definition<\/strong>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<em>major minerals<\/em>&nbsp;in the MMDR Act, but&nbsp;<strong>all minerals that are not minor minerals are officially designated as major minerals in India<\/strong>. They include metallic, non-metallic, and energy minerals vital for industries and national development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"list-of-major-minerals-in-india\">List of Major Minerals in India<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a&nbsp;<strong>list of major minerals in India<\/strong>, often asked in&nbsp;<strong>UPSC, APPSC and State PSC exams<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>\u0c15\u0c47\u0c1f\u0c17\u0c3f\u0c30\u0c40<\/th><th>Major Minerals Examples<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Metallic Minerals<\/strong><\/td><td>Iron Ore, Bauxite, Manganese, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Chromite, Gold<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Non-Metallic Minerals<\/strong><\/td><td>Limestone, Gypsum, Mica, Dolomite, Phosphate, Graphite<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Energy Minerals<\/strong><\/td><td>Coal, Lignite, Uranium, Petroleum, Natural Gas<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These&nbsp;<strong>major minerals in India UPSC<\/strong>&nbsp;questions are frequently asked to test knowledge of mineral belts, industries, and resource distribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-minor-minerals\">What Are Minor Minerals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to&nbsp;<strong>Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act<\/strong>,&nbsp;<em>minor minerals<\/em>&nbsp;mean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBuilding stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand, and any other mineral declared as a minor mineral by the Central Government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short <strong>minor minerals<\/strong>&nbsp;are mainly used for&nbsp;<strong>construction and local industries<\/strong>, while&nbsp;<strong>major minerals<\/strong>&nbsp;are essential for heavy industries like steel, power, and cement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"legal-framework-mmdr-act-1957\">Legal Framework: MMDR Act 1957<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Major minerals&nbsp;\u2013 Regulated by the&nbsp;Central Government.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minor minerals&nbsp;\u2013 Regulated by the&nbsp;State Governments&nbsp;under Section 15 of the MMDR Act.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rules like the&nbsp;Mineral Concession Rules, 1960&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988apply primarily to&nbsp;major minerals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The classification between&nbsp;minor and major minerals is crucial for understanding governance and economic policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"distribution-of-major-minerals-in-india\">Distribution of Major Minerals in India<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For UPSC and State PSC exams, knowing&nbsp;<strong>where major minerals are found in India<\/strong>&nbsp;is vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>\u0c16\u0c28\u0c3f\u0c1c\u0c02<\/th><th>Major Producing States<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Iron Ore<\/td><td>Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coal<\/td><td>Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bauxite<\/td><td>Odisha, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mica<\/td><td>Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Copper<\/td><td>Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Zinc &amp; Lead<\/td><td>Rajasthan (Zawar mines)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Limestone<\/td><td>Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Exam Tip:<\/strong><br>Questions like&nbsp;<em>\u201cWhich state leads in production of iron ore in India?\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<em>\u201cList of major minerals in India and their locations\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;are common in&nbsp;<strong>UPSC Prelims<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>State PSC exams<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"importance-of-major-and-minor-minerals\">Importance of Major and Minor Minerals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"economic-importance\">\u0c06\u0c30\u0c4d\u0c25\u0c3f\u0c15 \u0c2a\u0c4d\u0c30\u0c3e\u0c2e\u0c41\u0c16\u0c4d\u0c2f\u0c24<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Major minerals<\/strong>&nbsp;power industries like steel, cement, aluminium, and electricity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Minor minerals<\/strong>&nbsp;like sand and gravel support housing, roads, and infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"social-importance\">Social Importance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Provide employment to millions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drive local economies in mineral-rich districts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"environmental-aspect\">Environmental Aspect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both types of mining can impact ecosystems, requiring sustainable management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"recent-update-2025\">Recent Update (2025)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Feb 2025:<\/strong> Ministry of Mines notified that barytes, felspar, mica and quartz will be treated as major minerals (instead of minor). This has implications for leases (50 yrs) and regulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>October 2025:<\/strong> The&nbsp;<strong>\u0c17\u0c28\u0c41\u0c32 \u0c2e\u0c02\u0c24\u0c4d\u0c30\u0c3f\u0c24\u0c4d\u0c35 \u0c36\u0c3e\u0c16<\/strong>&nbsp;classified&nbsp;<strong>Limestone<\/strong>&nbsp;as a&nbsp;<em>major mineral completely<\/em>, removing the earlier dual classification (it was partly treated as a minor mineral when used for lime kilns).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This makes it a trending topic for&nbsp;<strong>major minerals and minor minerals UPSC 2025<\/strong>&nbsp;questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"difference-between-major-and-minor-minerals\">Difference Between Major and Minor Minerals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>\u0c15\u0c4b\u0c23\u0c02<\/th><th>Major Minerals<\/th><th>Minor Minerals<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>\u0c28\u0c3f\u0c30\u0c4d\u0c35\u0c1a\u0c28\u0c02<\/strong><\/td><td>All minerals not declared as minor<\/td><td>As per Sec 3(e) MMDR Act<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Regulated by<\/strong><\/td><td>Central Government<\/td><td>State Government<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>\u0c09\u0c26\u0c3e\u0c39\u0c30\u0c23\u0c32\u0c41:<\/strong><\/td><td>Iron ore, Coal, Bauxite, Copper, Limestone<\/td><td>Building stones, Gravel, Ordinary sand<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Use<\/strong><\/td><td>Heavy industries, power, export<\/td><td>Construction, local economy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Lease Period<\/strong><\/td><td>Up to 50 years<\/td><td>Usually 5\u201310 years<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-government-reforms\">Key Government Reforms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2021 Amendment<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Introduced mineral auction transparency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2023\u201324<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Increased royalty for certain major minerals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2025<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;Limestone, barytes, felspar, mica and quartz fully reclassified as major mineral; new policy for sustainable mining introduced.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"quick-recap\">Quick Recap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Major minerals:<\/strong>&nbsp;Iron, Coal, Bauxite, Mica, Limestone, Copper, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Minor minerals:<\/strong>&nbsp;Building stones, Gravel, Sand, Clay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recent update:<\/strong>&nbsp;Limestone now classified as a&nbsp;<em>major mineral<\/em>&nbsp;(2025).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Exam tip:<\/strong>&nbsp;Prepare the&nbsp;<strong>list of major minerals in India<\/strong>&nbsp;+ their producing states.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/readingroomz.com\/te\/current-affairs\/\">\u0c21\u0c48\u0c32\u0c40 \u0c15\u0c30\u0c46\u0c02\u0c1f\u0c4d \u0c05\u0c2b\u0c48\u0c30\u0c4d\u0c38\u0c4d<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"f\">\u0c24\u0c30\u0c1a\u0c41\u0c17\u0c3e \u0c05\u0c21\u0c3f\u0c17\u0c47 \u0c2a\u0c4d\u0c30\u0c36\u0c4d\u0c28\u0c32\u0c41 (FAQs)<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<ol class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760790898550\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What are the 7 major minerals in India?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The\u00a0seven major minerals in India\u00a0are\u00a0coal, iron ore, bauxite, limestone, copper, zinc, and manganese.<br \/>These minerals form the foundation of India\u2019s core industries like power, steel, cement, and construction.<br \/>They are officially designated as\u00a0major minerals\u00a0under the\u00a0Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791124231\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What are the 7 main types of minerals?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Minerals are broadly categorized into\u00a0<strong>seven main types<\/strong>\u00a0based on their chemical composition:<br \/><strong>Native Elements<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., gold, silver)<br \/><strong>Silicates<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., quartz, feldspar)<br \/><strong>Oxides<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., hematite, bauxite)<br \/><strong>Sulfides<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., galena, pyrite)<br \/><strong>Sulfates<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., gypsum)<br \/><strong>Carbonates<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., limestone, calcite)<br \/><strong>Halides &amp; Phosphates<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., fluorite, apatite)<br \/>These categories help classify both\u00a0<strong>major and minor minerals<\/strong>\u00a0found in India for academic and industrial reference.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791159052\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What are the 12 critical minerals of India?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The\u00a0<strong>12 critical minerals of India<\/strong>, identified by the\u00a0<strong>Ministry of Mines (2023)<\/strong>\u00a0for national security and clean energy needs, are:<br \/><strong>Lithium<\/strong><br \/><strong>Cobalt<\/strong><br \/><strong>Nickel<\/strong><br \/><strong>\u0c17\u0c4d\u0c30\u0c3e\u0c2b\u0c48\u0c1f\u0c4d<\/strong><br \/><strong>Rare Earth Elements (REEs)<\/strong><br \/><strong>Copper<\/strong><br \/><strong>Tin<\/strong><br \/><strong>Tungsten<\/strong><br \/><strong>Titanium<\/strong><br \/><strong>Platinum Group Elements (PGEs)<\/strong><br \/><strong>Molybdenum<\/strong><br \/><strong>Vanadium<\/strong><br \/>These minerals are crucial for\u00a0<strong>electric vehicles (EVs)<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>renewable energy<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>defense manufacturing<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>semiconductor production<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791195867\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What is the largest mineral found in India?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The\u00a0largest mineral resource in India\u00a0by volume is\u00a0coal, accounting for nearly\u00a055% of the country\u2019s total mineral output.<br \/>India ranks among the top five global producers of coal, with major deposits in\u00a0Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.<br \/>In terms of metallic minerals,\u00a0iron ore\u00a0holds the second-largest reserve base.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791232466\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What are officially designated major minerals in India?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The\u00a0officially designated major minerals in India\u00a0are those\u00a0not declared as minor minerals\u00a0under Section 3(e) of the\u00a0MMDR Act, 1957. These include key resources like\u00a0coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, zinc, lead, gold, silver, and limestone. As per the\u00a0latest 2025 notification,\u00a0limestone\u00a0has now been classified completely as a\u00a0major mineral\u00a0by the Ministry of Mines.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791293146\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What are major minerals and minor minerals aspirants should remember?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p><strong>Major minerals<\/strong>\u00a0\u2192 Iron ore, Coal, Bauxite, Mica, Copper, Zinc, Gold, Limestone.<br \/><strong>Minor minerals<\/strong>\u00a0\u2192 Building stones, Gravel, Sand, Ordinary clay, Marble (for construction).<br \/>The\u00a0difference lies in their usage and the level of government regulation\u00a0\u2014 Central Government regulates major minerals, while State Governments regulate minor minerals.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791396530\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What is the difference between major minerals and minor minerals in India?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p><strong>Major minerals in India<\/strong>\u00a0are used in heavy industries (steel, cement, energy) and regulated by the Central Government.<br \/><strong>Minor minerals<\/strong>\u00a0are used for construction (sand, stones, clay) and regulated by State Governments.<br \/>Example:\u00a0Iron ore\u00a0\u2192 major mineral;\u00a0ordinary sand\u00a0\u2192 minor mineral.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791486331\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Which state in India is richest in minerals?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Odisha\u00a0is the richest Indian state in mineral resources, contributing around\u00a035% of India\u2019s total mineral production. It is abundant in\u00a0iron ore, bauxite, chromite, coal, and manganese, making it the powerhouse of India\u2019s mining sector.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791538598\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Which department regulates major minerals in India?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The\u00a0Ministry of Mines, under the\u00a0Government of India, regulates exploration, development, and conservation of major minerals. The\u00a0State Departments of Mines and Geology\u00a0oversee\u00a0minor minerals\u00a0as per powers granted under Section 15 of the MMDR Act.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791602563\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What are the top producing states of major minerals in India?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Iron Ore &#8211; Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh<br \/>Coal &#8211; Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh<br \/>Bauxite &#8211; Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra<br \/>Manganese &#8211; Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka<br \/>Copper &#8211; Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh<br \/>Zinc &#8211; Rajasthan<br \/>Limestone &#8211; Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1760791794032\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">How many total major minerals are found in India?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>India officially recognizes\u00a0over 90 major minerals, including metallic, non-metallic, and fuel minerals. These are crucial for industries such as\u00a0steel, cement, electricity, fertilizers, and automobiles.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">\u0c2e\u0c42\u0c32\u0c02: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2184456\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u0c2a\u0c3f \u0c10 \u0c2c\u0c3f<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide explains the difference between\u00a0major and minor minerals in India, key examples, states, and recent 2025 reforms \u2014 perfect for\u00a0UPSC, APPSC, and other competitive exams.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2049,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAowpNK9DA:productID":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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