With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements: [2019]

With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements:

Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country.
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.
State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.

Sand is classified as a minor mineral under Section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). As per the official definition in the act: minor minerals” means building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand other than sand used for prescribed purposes, and any other mineral which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a minor mineral;

According to Section 15 of the MMDR Act, State Governments are empowered to formulate rules regulating the grant of quarry leases, mining leases, or other mineral concessions concerning minor minerals, as well as for related purposes. Consequently, the regulation of minor minerals falls within the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of the State Governments.
Additionally, Section 23C of the MMDR Act grants State Governments the authority to create rules aimed at preventing illegal mining, transportation, and storage of minerals, along with related activities. Therefore, the control of illegal mining is also under the legislative and administrative domain of the State Governments. However, the Ministry of Mines has prepared a ‘Sand Mining Framework’ in consultation with Mining Departments of the States incorporating best practices amongst States with the objectives of sustainability, availability, affordability, and transparency in sand mining.

Statement 2 is self-contradictory — it says State Governments have the power to grant leases, but rule-making power lies with the Central Government in the same domain. Such a division of authority within minor minerals management is unlikely. Hence, Statement 2 can be eliminated. Once Statement 2 is eliminated, options (b) and (d) are removed.