Which position did Madhya Pradesh hold in copper production in India during the year 2021 – 22 ?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, First. In 2021-22, Madhya Pradesh was India's leading producer of copper, contributing over half the country's copper ore output — almost entirely from the Malanjkhand Copper Project in Balaghat district (operated by Hindustan Copper Limited), one of Asia's largest open-cast copper mines.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Wrong rank — Madhya Pradesh was not a marginal producer near the bottom of the list; it led the country.  (b) Wrong rank — MP topped the national list in 2021-22, it did not trail behind another state.  (d) Wrong rank — MP was not a mid-table producer; its Malanjkhand deposit alone accounts for the bulk of India's economically workable copper ore.

Concept: Copper mining in India is heavily concentrated because economically workable ore is rare — Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), a central PSU, operates almost all of the country's copper mines, and its Malanjkhand Copper Project in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, is the single largest source. This concentration is why one state can dominate the national copper-output ranking.

State PCS 2023 Q71 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q71 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer