Consider the following minerals: 1) Bentonite 2) Chromite 3) Kyanite 4) Sillimanite In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

The correct answer is D (2, 3 and 4 only). The core concept is the official split of minerals into major and minor categories under the MMDR Act, 1957, which governs their leasing and state royalty rules.

• Statement 1 (Bentonite) is wrong. Bentonite is treated as a minor mineral in the official classification, so it is not a major mineral.
• Statement 2 (Chromite) is right. Chromite is a major mineral, as are iron ore, manganese, bauxite and copper.
• Statement 3 (Kyanite) is right. Kyanite is classed as a major mineral in the Ministry of Mines' list, alongside sillimanite and andalusite.
• Statement 4 (Sillimanite) is right. It is grouped with kyanite under the same major mineral category.

For Mains, this classification matters for federal fiscal questions: major minerals are largely under central control, while minor minerals fall within state domain, which is central to debates on mining governance and royalty distribution. The official lists have been revised over time, so check the current notification before quoting a list in an answer.

Trap: Aspirants often assume that any industrially important or non-metallic mineral is major. Bentonite is a common example of a mineral that sounds significant but is minor.