Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has informed the Ministry of Steel and Mines that mining lease holders in Odisha are illegally transporting low-grade manganese ore from their mines.
More about it:
| Topic | Information |
| Previous reports | Steel Ministry had alerted the Odisha Government (November 2022) about the under-reporting of grades of chromite and manganese ores. Also, the M. B. Shah Commission report on Illegal Mining had probed into the issue of irregularities in the mineral sector in the past, which put the extent of loss at ₹59,000 crores. |
| Mines and Minerals Regulation and Development Act 1957 | Empowers state government to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation, and storage of minerals. It is the responsibility of State Governments to establish the correct grade of mineral being dispatched. |
| Mining resources in Odisha | Odisha is a mineral-rich state with over 96% of India’s chrome ore, over 51% of bauxite reserve, over 33% of hematite iron ore, and over 43% of manganese. |
| About Manganese | Manganese is a silvery-Gray metal that is found in abundance in the Earth’s crust. It is commonly used in the production of steel and other alloys due to its ability to improve the strength, toughness, and workability of these materials. |
| About IBM | Indian Bureau of Mines (est. 1948; HQ: Nagpur) promotes the systematic and scientific development of mineral resources of the country both onshore and offshore. It collects a database of information on mines and minerals in the country to create a National Mineral Information Repository. |
