Q: 74 (IAS/2025)
question_subject:
Current Affairs
question_exam:
IAS
Based on the search results, the following conclusions can be drawn about each statement:
I. India joined the Minerals Security Partnership: This statement is correct. India became the 14th member of the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) in June 2023. The partnership aims to bolster critical minerals supply chains to support economic prosperity and climate objectives.
II. India is resource-rich in all 30 critical minerals: This statement is incorrect. While India has identified 30 critical minerals, it is not resource-rich in all of them. In fact, India is 100% import-dependent on several of these minerals, such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium, which are essential for various technologies, including electric vehicles and electronics.
III. Parliament amended the Mines Act (1957) to empower Central Govt for critical mineral auctions: This statement is correct. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, was passed, empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining leases and composite licenses for certain critical minerals. This amendment aims to streamline the process and ensure a more efficient allocation of resources.
Therefore, the correct statements are I and III, making option 3 the correct choice.