Rajasthan Government announced M-Sand Policy in the year 2024. This will remain in force –

Correct — option (1), until 31 March, 2029 or till a new policy is announced.

Section 3.1 of the Rajasthan M-Sand Policy 2024, "Duration of Policy", says the policy comes into effect from the date of its publication and remains in force until 31st March 2029, or till a new Policy is announced. That is option (1), until 31 March, 2029 or till a new policy is announced.

31 March 2029 is the last day of the financial year 2028-29. The policy's own targets also fall due in 2028-29: M-Sand production of 30 million tonnes a year, and M-Sand making up 50 per cent of sand in State-funded construction.

The other options keep the same "or till a new policy" wording but change the year (2030, 2032) or the day (30 June).

The idea to remember: the M-Sand Policy 2024 remains in force until 31 March 2029, or till a new policy is announced; that date closes 2028-29, the year its targets fall due.

Why the others are wrong

• (2)
  until 31 March, 2030 or till a new policy is announced — The policy remains in force until 31 March 2029 (or till a new policy is announced), one year earlier.

  A 2029-30 horizon does appear in a related document: the Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024 sets its first targets for 2029-30, such as a 5 per cent mineral share of GSDP. That is a target year of the Mineral Policy, not the M-Sand Policy's duration.

• (3)
  until 31 March, 2032 or till a new policy is announced — The policy remains in force until 31 March 2029 (or till a new policy is announced), three years before this date.

  The M-Sand Policy's targets — 30 million tonnes a year of production and a 50 per cent M-Sand share in State-funded works — are both set for 2028-29, and its stated term runs to the end of that financial year.

• (4)
  until 30 June, 2029 or till a new policy is announced — The year is right but the day is not. The policy remains in force until 31 March 2029 (or till a new policy is announced), the close of the financial year 2028-29.

  30 June 2029 falls three months into the next financial year, which does not match the policy's text or its 2028-29 targets.

Manufactured sand (M-Sand) is made by crushing rock, mining overburden or construction and demolition waste, then shaping, screening and grading it. It replaces river sand (bajri) in concrete and plaster.

The policy gives the need in numbers. Rajasthan's demand for river sand is about 70 million tonnes a year, while its 36 operating M-Sand units produce only about 13 million tonnes.

It also cites Supreme Court rulings on river sand mining: Deepak Kumar vs State of Haryana (2012), which prohibited mining without environmental clearance, and a 2017 order against mining without scientific replenishment studies.

Key facts

• The Rajasthan M-Sand Policy 2024 comes into effect on publication and remains in force until 31 March 2029, or till a new policy is announced.
• Target: increase M-Sand production by 20% each year, reaching 30 million tonnes per annum by 2028-29.
• At least 25% of sand used in State-funded construction must be M-Sand, rising in phases to 50% by 2028-29.
• For incentives, an M-Sand unit is one that produces at least 50% of its total output as M-Sand.
• Royalty on overburden dumps lying on Government land is exempted by 50% when used for M-Sand; contribution to the District Mineral Foundation Trust Fund for using overburden dumps in M-Sand is exempted.

Common traps

• 31 March 2029 closes the financial year 2028-29. The Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024 uses 2029-30 and 2046-47 as target years, so a 2030 date belongs to that policy's targets, not to the M-Sand Policy's duration.
• The 25 per cent M-Sand minimum for State-funded construction is the policy's starting requirement; 50 per cent is the phased target for 2028-29. Do not read 50 per cent as the starting rule.
• The figure 50 per cent recurs in the policy — for example, the output share that defines an M-Sand unit, the royalty exemption on overburden dumps, and the cut in keenness money. Check which provision a statement is about.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2021 and 2018 here once those papers are published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Under the Rajasthan M-Sand Policy 2024, what minimum share of the sand used in construction works of the State Government and bodies financed by it must be M-Sand?

  • (a)10 per cent
  • (b)25 per cent
  • (c)50 per cent
  • (d)75 per cent
  Answer(2) — The policy sets a minimum of 25 per cent. Option (3), 50 per cent, is the level it is to reach in phases by 2028-29, not the starting minimum. Options (1) and (4) are figures the policy does not use for this requirement.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Rajasthan M-Sand Policy 2024 aims to raise M-Sand production in the State to how much per annum by 2028-29?

  • (a)13 million tonnes
  • (b)30 million tonnes
  • (c)50 million tonnes
  • (d)70 million tonnes
  Answer(2) — The target is 30 million tonnes per annum by 2028-29, through 20 per cent growth each year. Option (1) is roughly the present output of the 36 operating units, option (4) the present demand for river sand, and option (3) is not a figure in the policy.