With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements : 1. Sand is a 'minor mineral' according to the prevailing law in the country. 2. State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government. 3. State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is correct as sand is classified as a 'minor mineral' under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and Statement 3 is correct because Section 23C of the same Act empowers State Governments to frame rules for preventing illegal mining. Statement 2 is incorrect—and thus makes options (b) and (d) wrong—because Section 15 of the MMDR Act specifically delegates the power to frame rules for the grant of mining leases for minor minerals to State Governments, not the Central Government. The core concept tested is the federal distribution of legislative and administrative powers regarding mineral resources under the MMDR Act, 1957.