UPSC Prelims 2010 Q47: Geography – Economic & Mineral Geography
With reference to the mineral resources of India, consider the following pairs:
Mineral - 90% Natural sources in
1. Copper - Jharkhand
2. Nickel - Orissa
3. Tungsten - Kerala
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Checking mineral-resource location pairs
India's major mineral deposits are concentrated in specific states, often misattributed in casual pairings.
| Pair | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Copper - Jharkhand | Incorrect | While Jharkhand (Singhbhum) has copper, the claim of ~90% of India's copper being there is inaccurate; Madhya Pradesh (Malanjkhand) holds the largest share |
| 2. Nickel - Orissa | Correct | Odisha (Sukinda belt) holds the overwhelming majority (~90%+) of India's nickel reserves |
| 3. Tungsten - Kerala | Incorrect | India's major tungsten deposits are in Rajasthan (Degana), not Kerala |
India's mineral geography:
| Mineral | Major source |
|---|---|
| Copper | Madhya Pradesh (Malanjkhand), also Rajasthan, Jharkhand |
| Nickel | Odisha (Sukinda) — dominant share |
| Tungsten | Rajasthan (Degana) |
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pair 1 (Copper-Jharkhand) overstates Jharkhand's share; Madhya Pradesh holds the largest copper share.
- (b) CORRECT. Pair 2 (Nickel-Orissa) is accurately matched; Odisha dominates India's nickel reserves.
- (c) Incorrect. Pair 1 is inaccurate, so including it alongside pair 3 (also wrong) doesn't help.
- (d) Incorrect. Pairs 1 and 3 are both inaccurate, so 'all three' cannot be correct.
Key point
Nickel-Orissa (Odisha's Sukinda belt) is correctly matched with ~90%+ of India's reserves — but Copper's major source is Madhya Pradesh (not Jharkhand), and Tungsten's major source is Rajasthan (not Kerala).
Remember
Nickel-Orissa is the correctly matched mineral pair; Copper's major source is MP, and Tungsten's is Rajasthan, not Jharkhand/Kerala.
Common mistakes
- Overstating Jharkhand's share of India's copper reserves, missing Madhya Pradesh's dominance.
- Misplacing tungsten deposits in Kerala instead of the correct Rajasthan (Degana).
- Not knowing Odisha's Sukinda belt as India's dominant nickel source.
Exam tip
Nickel = Odisha (Sukinda). Copper = Madhya Pradesh (Malanjkhand), not Jharkhand. Tungsten = Rajasthan (Degana), not Kerala.
Sources
- Indian Bureau of Mines — Indian Minerals Yearbook 2009 (Nickel; Chromite)
- Geological Survey of India — Geology and Mineral Resources of the States of India (Miscellaneous Publication No. 30)