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Sustainable Mining Practices

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

This concept directly relates to environmental protection, social justice, resource management, and the critical balance between industrial development and ecological sustainability, a key area for governance and policy.

Sustainable mining practices aim to minimize the environmental and social impact of mineral extraction while ensuring economic viability and resource conservation. This involves adopting advanced technologies, adhering to environmental regulations, and implementing robust rehabilitation and resettlement programs for affected communities.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Environmental Focus

Minimizes ecological footprint (land degradation, water/air pollution).

Mitigation Measures

Includes land reclamation, dust suppression, controlled blasting, waste management.

Regulatory Compliance

Requires statutory clearances and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

Social Responsibility

Addresses social aspects like rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) of displaced populations.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaEnvironment & Ecology
Conceptual areaSocial Justice

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)Regulates clearances
Ministry of CoalOversees mining operations
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Statement-based questions

Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding

Quick revision

  • Minimizing environmental degradation (air, water, land).
  • Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) for affected communities.
  • Adoption of advanced, eco-friendly mining technologies.
  • Compliance with statutory clearances and EIAs.
  • Balancing resource extraction with long-term sustainability.

Elimination traps

Constitutional vs statutory — Understanding the difference between environmental protection enshrined in the constitution and specific statutory laws governing mining and environment.

Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated i...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2026Factual recall, Terminology-based question

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated i...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in w...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol. 2...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in w...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol. 2...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2023Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in w...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol. 2...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2022Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Statement-based questions, Factual recall

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Topic timeline

Environment & EcologySocial Justice
Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

Open question

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

Open question

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Open question

With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in w...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol. 2...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Open question

With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in w...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol. 2...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Open question

With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in w...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol. 2...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Open question

At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated i...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Factual recall, Terminology-based question

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Open question

At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated i...

Open question

Sonepur Bazari OCP: Setting New Benchmarks in Coal Production and Operational Excellence

03 Aug 2026 · Sustainable mining integrates environmental protection, social responsibility (R&R), and economic viability through advanced technologies, regulatory compliance, and impact mitigation strategies.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Sustainable Mining Practices

Often confused with

Environmental Degradation and Governance Challenges from Illegal Mining

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Sustainable Mining Practices in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Sustainable Mining Practices

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

2023·Environment & Ecology
Solve

With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in w...

2023·Geography
Solve

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol. 2...

2023·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

2026·Environment & Ecology
Solve

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

2019·Environment & Ecology
Solve

At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated i...

2026·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

2022·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

2019·Environment & Ecology
Solve

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