NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources (NCERT 2026–27)

These Class 12 Geography Chapter 5 solutions cover Mineral and Energy Resources from India – People and Economy (Unit III), the NCERT textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter explains the types of minerals (metallic, non-metallic and mineral fuels), the three great mineral belts of peninsular India, the distribution of ferrous (iron ore, manganese) and non-ferrous (bauxite, copper) minerals, the conventional energy resources (coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear), the non-conventional energy sources (solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, bio-energy) and the urgent need for the conservation of mineral resources. Below you get step-by-step answers to every NCERT exercise question, key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 12 Subject: Geography Book: India – People and Economy Chapter: 5 (Unit III) Chapter Name: Mineral and Energy Resources Session: 2026–27
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Class 12 Geography Chapter 5 – Overview

Chapter 5, Mineral and Energy Resources, shows how India’s varied geological structure endows it with a rich variety of minerals, most of which are products of the pre-palaeozoic age and are associated with the metamorphic and igneous rocks of peninsular India; the alluvial plains of north India are largely devoid of economic minerals. Minerals are classed as metallic (ferrous like iron ore and manganese, and non-ferrous like bauxite and copper) and non-metallic (organic mineral fuels such as coal and petroleum, and inorganic ones such as mica and limestone). They are unevenly distributed, show an inverse relation between quality and quantity, and are exhaustible. India’s minerals are concentrated in three broad belts — the North-Eastern Plateau, the South-Western Plateau and the North-Western region. Energy resources are divided into conventional sources (coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear) and non-conventional, renewable sources (solar, wind, tidal & wave, geothermal and bio-energy). The chapter closes by stressing the conservation of minerals through recycling scrap, using substitutes and reducing exports of scarce minerals.

Key Concepts & Terms

Mineral: a natural substance of organic or inorganic origin with definite chemical and physical properties.

Metallic minerals: the sources of metals — divided into ferrous (iron-bearing, e.g. iron ore, manganese, chromite) and non-ferrous (without iron, e.g. copper, bauxite, gold).

Non-metallic minerals: either organic in origin (fossil/mineral fuels like coal and petroleum) or inorganic (mica, limestone, graphite).

Three mineral belts of India: (1) the North-Eastern Plateau (Chhotanagpur, Odisha plateau, West Bengal, parts of Chhattisgarh) — iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite, mica; (2) the South-Western Plateau (Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu uplands, Kerala) — ferrous metals, high-grade iron ore, manganese, limestone, bauxite; (3) the North-Western region (Aravali in Rajasthan and Gujarat) — copper, zinc, sandstone, granite, marble, gypsum, limestone, petroleum, salt.

Iron ore: India has Asia’s largest reserves; the two main ores are haematite and magnetite. About 95% of reserves lie in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Bauxite: the ore of aluminium, found in tertiary deposits associated with laterite rocks; Odisha is the largest producer.

Conventional energy (exhaustible): coal, petroleum, natural gas (fossil fuels) and nuclear minerals (uranium, thorium).

Non-conventional (renewable) energy: solar, wind, hydro, tidal & wave, geothermal and bio-energy — more equitably distributed and environment-friendly.

Refineries: field-based (e.g. Digboi) located near oilfields, and market-based (e.g. Barauni) located near consuming markets.

Conservation of minerals: minerals are exhaustible and have “no second crop”, so they must be conserved by recycling scrap metals (copper, lead, zinc), using substitutes for scarce metals and reducing the export of strategic and scarce minerals.

NCERT Exercises – Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises. Answers are original, written in CBSE exam-ready style.

1. Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.

(i) In which one of the following States are the major oil fields located? (a) Assam    (b) Bihar    (c) Rajasthan    (d) Tamil Nadu

ANSWER (a) Assam. Assam has long-established and important oilfields — Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran. Digboi was India’s only oil-producing region until 1956, and Assam remains one of the country’s major onshore oil-producing States.

(ii) At which one of the following places was the first atomic power station started? (a) Kalpakkam    (b) Narora    (c) Rana Pratap Sagar    (d) Tarapur

ANSWER (d) Tarapur. The Tarapur Atomic Power Station in Maharashtra was India’s first nuclear power station to be commissioned, making it the country’s earliest atomic power project.

(iii) Which one of the following is non-renewable source of energy? (a) Hydel    (b) Solar    (c) Thermal    (d) Wind power

ANSWER (c) Thermal. Thermal power is generated by burning fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas, which are exhaustible and cannot be replenished — hence non-renewable. Hydel, solar and wind power are renewable (non-conventional) sources.

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Give an account of the distribution of mica in India.

ANSWER Mica is produced mainly in Jharkhand (a high-quality belt in the lower Hazaribagh plateau), Andhra Pradesh (Nellore), Telangana and Rajasthan (Jaipur–Bhilwara–Udaipur belt), followed by Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

(ii) What is nuclear power? Mention the important nuclear power stations in India.

ANSWER Nuclear power is energy generated from minerals like uranium and thorium. Important nuclear power projects are Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata near Kota (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh), Kaiga (Karnataka) and Kakarapara (Gujarat).

(iii) Name non-ferrous metal. Discuss their spatial distribution.

ANSWER Bauxite and copper are non-ferrous metals. Bauxite occurs mainly in Odisha (largest producer), Jharkhand, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Copper occurs in Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh) and Jhunjhunu & Alwar (Rajasthan).

(iv) What are non-conventional sources of energy?

ANSWER Non-conventional sources of energy are renewable, sustainable and environment-friendly sources such as solar, wind, hydro, tidal and wave, geothermal and bio-energy. They are inexhaustible and more equitably distributed than fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

3. Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i) Write a detailed note on the Petroleum resources of India.

ANSWER Crude petroleum consists of hydrocarbons in liquid and gaseous states and is an essential source of energy for internal combustion engines in automobiles, railways and aircraft; its by-products feed petrochemical industries making fertilisers, synthetic rubber and fibre, medicines, lubricants, wax, soap and cosmetics. It is called liquid gold because of its scarcity and diversified uses. Crude petroleum occurs in the sedimentary rocks of the tertiary period. Systematic oil exploration began after the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) was set up in 1956; until then Digboi in Assam was the only producing region. Producing regions: in Assam — Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran; in Gujarat — Ankaleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, Nawagam, Kosamba and Lunej; Mumbai High (160 km off Mumbai), discovered in 1973, began producing in 1976; and the Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basins on the east coast. Crude oil contains impurities and must be refined. India has two types of refineries: field-based (e.g. Digboi) and market-based (e.g. Barauni).

(ii) Write an essay on hydel power in India.

ANSWER Hydel (hydro-electric) power is electricity generated from the kinetic energy of flowing or falling water. Because it uses water — a renewable resource that is naturally replenished by the hydrological cycle — hydel power is a clean, non-conventional, pollution-free and inexhaustible source of energy that does not consume any fossil fuel. How it works: river water is stored behind a dam in a reservoir; when released, the falling water turns turbines whose rotation drives generators that produce electricity. Such multi-purpose river-valley projects also serve irrigation, flood control, navigation and drinking-water supply, so the same investment yields several benefits. Significance for India: India’s many perennial Himalayan rivers and steep peninsular gradients give it large hydel potential. Hydel power supplements coal-based thermal power and helps reduce dependence on exhaustible fossil fuels, lowering pollution and conserving non-renewable resources for the future. Limitations: dam construction is costly and slow, can submerge land and forests, displace people and disturb aquatic ecosystems, and generation depends on a steady river flow that monsoon variability can affect. Even so, hydel power remains a key sustainable energy source for the country.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Why are most metallic minerals found in peninsular India and not in the northern plains?

ANSWERMost metallic minerals occur in the old crystalline, metamorphic and igneous rocks of the peninsular plateau, which formed in the pre-palaeozoic age. The northern plains are made of recent alluvium deposited by rivers, which is devoid of minerals of economic use.

Q2. Distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous metallic minerals with examples.

ANSWERFerrous minerals contain iron and form the base of metallurgical industries — examples are iron ore, manganese and chromite. Non-ferrous minerals do not contain iron — examples are copper, bauxite and gold. India is well placed in ferrous minerals but poorly endowed in non-ferrous metals except bauxite.

Q3. Name the two main types of iron ore found in India and state where 95% of reserves lie.

ANSWERThe two main types of iron ore are haematite and magnetite. About 95% of India’s iron-ore reserves are located in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Q4. Differentiate between field-based and market-based oil refineries with one example each.

ANSWERA field-based refinery is located near the oilfield where crude is extracted (example: Digboi in Assam). A market-based refinery is located near the consuming market and crude is transported to it (example: Barauni in Bihar).

Q5. Why is the conservation of mineral resources necessary?

ANSWERMinerals take very long to form geologically, are exhaustible and cannot be replenished at the time of need — they have “no second crop.” Conservation is needed so that reserves last longer for future generations; it is achieved by recycling scrap metals, using substitutes for scarce metals and reducing the export of strategic minerals.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the three major mineral belts of India and the minerals found in each.

ANSWERIndia’s minerals are concentrated in three broad belts. The North-Eastern Plateau belt covers Chhotanagpur (Jharkhand), the Odisha plateau, West Bengal and parts of Chhattisgarh; it is the richest belt, holding iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite and mica, which is why the major iron and steel industry is located here. The South-Western Plateau belt extends over Karnataka, Goa, the adjoining Tamil Nadu uplands and Kerala; it is rich in ferrous metals and bauxite, high-grade iron ore, manganese and limestone, but lacks coal except the Neyveli lignite. Kerala has monazite, thorium and bauxite clay, and Goa has iron ore. The North-Western belt runs along the Aravali in Rajasthan and into Gujarat, with minerals tied to the Dharwar rocks; it yields copper, zinc, building stones (sandstone, granite, marble), gypsum, Fuller’s earth, dolomite and limestone, while Gujarat is noted for petroleum and both States for salt. The Himalayan belt additionally has copper, lead, zinc, cobalt and tungsten.

Q2. Compare conventional and non-conventional sources of energy, giving examples and noting why a shift towards non-conventional sources is necessary.

ANSWERConventional sources of energy include the fossil fuels coal, petroleum and natural gas, along with nuclear minerals. They are exhaustible, unevenly distributed, and burning them releases pollutants that harm the environment; once used they cannot be replaced. Non-conventional sources — solar, wind, hydro, tidal and wave, geothermal and bio-energy — are renewable, sustainable, more equitably distributed and environment-friendly, providing cheaper energy once the initial cost is met. Solar energy is tapped through photovoltaic cells and solar-thermal technology and has great potential in Gujarat and Rajasthan; wind energy is pollution-free and well developed in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka; tidal energy has potential along the west coast; geothermal energy is tapped at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh; and bio-energy converts agricultural and municipal waste into power, as at Okhla in Delhi. A shift towards non-conventional sources is necessary because fossil fuels are running out and cause pollution and climate change, whereas renewables are inexhaustible, clean and ensure sustainable development for future generations.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. A mineral is best defined as a natural substance with:

(a) only inorganic origin    (b) definite chemical and physical properties    (c) no fixed composition    (d) renewable supply

2. Which of the following is a ferrous mineral?

(a) Copper    (b) Bauxite    (c) Manganese    (d) Gold

3. The ore used in the manufacture of aluminium is:

(a) haematite    (b) bauxite    (c) magnetite    (d) chromite

4. The largest producer of bauxite in India is:

(a) Jharkhand    (b) Gujarat    (c) Odisha    (d) Maharashtra

5. The two main types of iron ore found in India are:

(a) haematite and magnetite    (b) bauxite and lignite    (c) monazite and ilmenite    (d) limonite and siderite

6. Mumbai High oilfield commenced production in the year:

(a) 1956    (b) 1973    (c) 1976    (d) 1948

7. Digboi refinery is an example of a:

(a) market-based refinery    (b) field-based refinery    (c) coastal refinery    (d) inland import refinery

8. The geothermal energy plant in India has been commissioned at:

(a) Tarapur    (b) Manikaran    (c) Neyveli    (d) Okhla

9. Which State has the greatest potential for solar energy development?

(a) Kerala    (b) West Bengal    (c) Rajasthan    (d) Assam

10. Over 97 per cent of India’s coal reserves occur in the valleys of:

(a) Ganga, Yamuna, Kosi and Gandak    (b) Damodar, Sone, Mahanadi and Godavari    (c) Narmada, Tapi, Mahi and Sabarmati    (d) Krishna, Kaveri, Tungabhadra and Penna

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(a), 6-(c), 7-(b), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(b).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: Most metallic minerals in India occur in the peninsular plateau region.

Reason: The peninsular plateau has old crystalline, metamorphic and igneous rocks of the pre-palaeozoic age.

A-R 2. Assertion: Thermal power is a non-renewable source of energy.

Reason: Thermal power is generated by burning exhaustible fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.

A-R 3. Assertion: India is poorly endowed with non-ferrous metallic minerals except bauxite.

Reason: Bauxite is the only ferrous mineral mined in large quantities in India.

A-R 4. Assertion: Minerals must be conserved and not misused.

Reason: Minerals are exhaustible, take long to form geologically and cannot be replenished at the time of need.

A-R 5. Assertion: The northern alluvial plains of India are rich in economic minerals.

Reason: River-borne alluvium is the richest source of metallic mineral deposits.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(C), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the three mineral belts with their key minerals and States, and keep a clear table of which State leads which mineral (Odisha – bauxite; Madhya Pradesh/Odisha – manganese; Jharkhand – mica & copper). For energy questions, separate conventional (coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear) from non-conventional (solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, bio-energy) and remember anchor facts — ONGC 1956, Mumbai High discovered 1973 & produced 1976, Tarapur as the first atomic station, Digboi (field-based) vs Barauni (market-based) refineries, and Manikaran geothermal plant. In long answers, support each point with named places to show map-based knowledge.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Calling bauxite or copper “ferrous” — they are non-ferrous (they contain no iron).
  • Confusing haematite/magnetite (iron ore) with monazite/ilmenite (sources of thorium).
  • Listing thermal, hydel, solar or wind wrongly — only thermal is non-renewable; hydel, solar and wind are renewable.
  • Mixing up the years — ONGC was set up in 1956, Mumbai High was discovered in 1973 and started producing in 1976.
  • Swapping refinery types — Digboi is field-based and Barauni is market-based.
  • Saying the northern plains are mineral-rich — they are largely devoid of economic minerals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 5 of Class 12 Geography (India – People and Economy) about?

Chapter 5, Mineral and Energy Resources, deals with the types of minerals (metallic, non-metallic and mineral fuels), the three mineral belts of peninsular India, the distribution of iron ore, manganese, bauxite and copper, the conventional energy resources (coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear), the non-conventional sources (solar, wind, tidal, geothermal and bio-energy) and the conservation of mineral resources.

How many questions are in the NCERT exercise of Chapter 5?

The NCERT exercise has Question 1 with three multiple-choice items (i–iii), Question 2 with four short-answer questions (about 30 words each), and Question 3 with two long-answer questions (about 150 words each) — all answered step by step on this page.

Which is the first atomic power station of India and where are major oilfields located?

Tarapur in Maharashtra was India’s first atomic power station. The major oilfields are located in Assam (Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran), Gujarat (Ankaleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, etc.), Mumbai High off the west coast, and the Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basins on the east coast.

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