Consider the following statements related to the “State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) 2025” released by the Ministry of Mines: States have been categorized into three groups based on their mineral endowment: Category A, B, and C. The top states in Category A include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat; Category B includes Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam; Category C includes Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Tripura. Rajasthan became the first state to set an auction for major mineral blocks after obtaining all necessary pre-embedded permissions. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

The correct answer is All are correct. In News The Ministry of Mines released the inaugural State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) in 2025, ranking states based on mineral endowment and mining governance. Key Points Under the SMRI, states are divided into three categories based on mineral resource endowment and mining readiness. Category A’s top states are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat; Category B includes Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Assam; Category C includes Punjab, Uttarakhand and Tripura. Rajasthan is the first state to set an auction for major mineral blocks after fulfilling all pre-embedded permissions. The index evaluates auction performance, early mine operationalisation, exploration thrust, and sustainable mining practices. This initiative supports India’s goals for transparency, sustainability and competitive federalism in the mining sector. Additional Information Ministry of Mines Leads formulation of policies and regulations for mineral resource management in India. Supports reforms to promote investment and sustainability in the mining sector. SMRI Objectives Promote state-level reforms and improve operational efficiency in mining. Benchmark states to encourage healthy competition and better governance. Focus on non-coal minerals and sustainable practices. State Ranking Impact Highlights leading and lagging states in mining readiness and governance. Encourages implementation of best practices nationwide.