Previous Year Question
Which of the following State is the largest manganese producer in India?
Maharashtra
Madhya Pradesh
Karnataka
Orissa
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
According to the official data of the Indian Bureau of Mines, Madhya Pradesh was the largest manganese ore producing State in India in 2010-11.
Production of the major States in 2010-11 was:
Madhya Pradesh — 716,285 tonnes
Maharashtra — 672,828 tonnes
Odisha — 655,984 tonnes
Karnataka — 413,287 tonnes
Thus, Madhya Pradesh had the highest production among all the options in that year.
The major manganese-producing region of Madhya Pradesh is Balaghat. The mines of MOIL, one of India's major manganese-producing companies, are located in the Balaghat region of Madhya Pradesh as well as in the Nagpur-Bhandara belt of Maharashtra.
An important data-based caution is also necessary here. The position changed in 2011-12—Maharashtra produced about 646,238 tonnes, compared with about 607,968 tonnes in Madhya Pradesh.