Consider the following statements : I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member. II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified. III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals. Which of the statements given above are correct?
A
I and II only
B
II and III only
C
I and III only
Correct answer
D
I, II and III
Explanation
Statement I is correct: India joined the US-led Minerals Security Partnership in June 2023. Statement II is wrong: India depends heavily on imports for many of the 30 critical minerals it identified in 2023, such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. Statement III is correct: the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 empowers the Central Government to auction mining leases and composite licences exclusively for the critical and strategic minerals listed in Part D of the First Schedule. So I and III only.
Mineral Resources and Mining LegislationCritical MineralsMinerals Security PartnershipCritical MineralsMMDR Amendment Act 2023Mining AuctionResource Distribution