Consider the following statements regarding targets of Rajasthan Mineral Policy – 2024 : A. Provide employment to 50 lakh people by 2029-30 and over 1 crore people (direct and indirect) by 2046-47. B. Enhance the mineral sector’s contribution to state’s GSDP from 3.4 percent in 2023-24 to 5 percent by 2029-30 and to 8 percent by 2046-47. C. Expand the number of minerals under extraction from 58 to 70 by 2047. Which of the above statements are correct ?

Correct — option (4), A, B and C.

All three statements match targets listed in Section 5 (Targets) of the Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024, published by the State's Department of Mines and Geology.

A is correct. The policy aims to provide employment to 50 lakh people by 2029-30 and over 1 crore people (direct and indirect) by 2046-47.

B is correct. It aims to raise the mineral sector's contribution to GSDP from 3.4 per cent in 2023-24 to 5.0 per cent by 2029-30 and 8.0 per cent by 2046-47.

C is correct. It aims to expand the number of minerals under extraction from 58 to 70 by 2047. The 58 equals the total of the minerals the policy's background says the State produces: 22 major and 36 minor.

All three are genuine targets, so the answer is option (4), A, B and C.

The idea to remember: four of the six targets in Section 5 run on two horizons, 2029-30 and 2046-47; the Chief Minister's foreword speaks of a 'Viksit Rajasthan' by 2047.

Why the others are wrong

• (1)
  A and B only — A and B are correct, but this code leaves out C, which is also a stated target.

  The policy aims to expand the number of minerals under extraction from 58 to 70 by 2047. The 58 equals the 22 major and 36 minor minerals the policy says the State produces.

• (2)
  B and C only — B and C are correct, but this code leaves out A.

  The policy's employment target is the one A states: 50 lakh people by 2029-30 and over 1 crore people (direct and indirect) by 2046-47. Its background section puts current direct and indirect employment at around 35 lakh.

• (3)
  A and C only — A and C are correct, but this code leaves out B.

  The policy does aim to lift the mineral sector's share of GSDP from 3.4 per cent in 2023-24 to 5.0 per cent by 2029-30 and 8.0 per cent by 2046-47. The 3.4 per cent is the sector's contribution recorded in its background section.

A State mineral policy sets out how the State will explore, auction and regulate its minerals, and what it expects the sector to deliver.

The Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024 follows the Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2015. Its reasons for a new policy include amendments to the MMDR Act, 1957 (auctions, exploration licences, critical and strategic minerals), alignment with the National Mineral Policy 2019, and a sharper focus on jobs, sustainable mining, technology and revenue.

Its baseline: mining covers about 0.68% of Rajasthan's area, mineral revenue to the State was ₹7,491 crore in 2023-24, the sector contributed 3.4% of GSDP, and it employs around 35 lakh people directly and indirectly.

Key facts

• Rajasthan produces 22 major and 36 minor minerals, according to the Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024.
• Target: expand the number of minerals under extraction from 58 to 70 by 2047.
• Target: raise the mineral sector's share of GSDP from 3.4% in 2023-24 to 5.0% by 2029-30 and 8.0% by 2046-47.
• Target: employment for 50 lakh people by 2029-30 and over 1 crore people (direct and indirect) by 2046-47.
• Target: increase State revenue from minerals threefold by 2029-30 and to ₹1 lakh crore by 2046-47.

Common traps

• Each GSDP target has a base and two target years. Swapping 5.0 and 8.0 per cent, or 2029-30 and 2046-47, makes a statement false while it still reads plausibly.
• 58 is the present base (it equals the 22 major and 36 minor minerals produced); 70 is the 2047 target. A statement that treats 58 as the target, or 70 as the present count, is wrong.
• The Mineral Policy 2024 and the M-Sand Policy 2024 are separate documents with different targets; the M-Sand Policy stays in force until 31 March 2029 or until a new policy is announced. Keep their numbers apart.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2018 here once that paper is published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Under the Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024, the target for the State's revenue from minerals is to –

  • (a)reach ₹50,000 crore by 2029-30
  • (b)increase threefold by 2029-30 and reach ₹1 lakh crore by 2046-47
  • (c)double by 2029-30 and reach ₹75,000 crore by 2046-47
  • (d)reach ₹1 lakh crore by 2029-30
  Answer(2) — The policy targets a threefold rise by 2029-30 and ₹1 lakh crore by 2046-47. Options (1) and (3) give figures the policy does not state, and option (4) attaches the 2046-47 figure to 2029-30.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  According to the Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024, the minerals produced in the State number –

  • (a)22 major and 36 minor
  • (b)36 major and 22 minor
  • (c)58 major and 12 minor
  • (d)22 major and 48 minor
  Answer(1) — The policy says 22 major and 36 minor minerals are produced, 58 in all. Option (2) reverses the two counts. Options (3) and (4) both add up to 70, which is the 2047 target, not the present count.