← Controller of Mines
Past Questions
Which of the following disease is not declared in the official gazette of India as a disease connected with mining operation?
A)
Silicosis
B)
Pneumoconiosis
C)
Ankylostomiosis
D)
Manganese poisoning nervous type
Under the Mines Act and the subsequent notifications in the Official Gazette of India (specifically relating to the notification of occupational diseases), certain diseases are officially recognized as being connected with mining operations for the purpose of compensation and health monitoring.
1. Silicosis (Option a): This is a well-known occupational lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust, common in mining and quarrying.
2. Pneumoconiosis (Option b): This is a general term for lung diseases caused by the inhalation of mineral dusts (including coal worker's pneumoconiosis), which is directly linked to mining.
3. Manganese poisoning nervous type (Option d): This is a recognized occupational disease resulting from the inhalation of manganese fumes or dust, often occurring in specific mining and smelting operations.
4. Ankylostomiosis (Option c): Also known as Hookworm infection. While it may occur in mining environments due to poor sanitation or soil contact, it is a parasitic infection and is not classified as a 'disease connected with mining operations' in the official gazette of occupational diseases in India. It is considered a general health/hygiene issue rather than a specific occupational hazard of the mining process itself.
Poisson distribution is applied for:
A)
Continuous Random Variable
B)
Discrete Random Variable
C)
Irregular Random Variable
D)
Uncertain Random Variable
The Poisson distribution is a probability distribution that expresses the probability of a given number of events occurring in a fixed interval of time or space.
1. **Nature of the Variable**: The variable in a Poisson distribution represents a 'count' of occurrences (e.g., the number of emails received per hour, the number of defects in a square meter of fabric). Counts are always non-negative integers (0, 1, 2, ...).
2. **Discrete vs. Continuous**: A random variable is 'discrete' if its set of possible outcomes is countable. Since you cannot have 2.5 occurrences of an event, the Poisson distribution deals exclusively with discrete values.
3. **Analysis of Options**:
- **Option a (Continuous)**: Continuous variables can take any value within a range (e.g., height, weight). These are modeled by distributions like the Normal or Exponential distribution, not Poisson.
- **Option b (Discrete)**: Correct. Poisson distribution models the count of events, which is a discrete random variable.
- **Option c (Irregular)**: This is not a standard mathematical classification for random variables in probability theory.
- **Option d (Uncertain)**: While all random variables involve uncertainty, 'Uncertain Random Variable' is not a specific technical category used to distinguish distribution types.
Based on Mizoram Minor Mineral Concession Rules 2000, which among these does not belongs to the minor mineral?
A)
Building stone including shell limestone
B)
Gravel
C)
Limestone
D)
Coal
Under the Mizoram Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2000, 'Minor Minerals' are defined as minerals other than those specified as 'Major Minerals' under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
1. Building stone, shell limestone, and gravel (Options a, b, and c) are typically categorized as minor minerals because they are generally used for local construction and infrastructure and do not have the same strategic or economic scale as major minerals.
2. Coal (Option d) is explicitly classified as a 'Major Mineral' under the national framework of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Major minerals are managed by the Central Government or specific state authorities under different, more stringent regulatory frameworks than those applied to minor minerals.
Therefore, Coal does not belong to the category of minor minerals.
What percentage of employees should undergo initial medical examination every year of the mine?
A)
10 %
B)
20 %
C)
30 %
D)
40%
Under the Mines Act and the associated Mine Rules (specifically relating to the Periodic Medical Examination or PME), there is a requirement to ensure that the workforce is monitored for occupational health hazards. While an 'Initial Medical Examination' (IME) is conducted once when a person is first employed, the 'Periodic Medical Examination' (PME) is conducted at regular intervals. According to the statutory guidelines for the phased implementation of medical examinations in mines, it is mandated that at least 20% of the total employees should undergo their periodic medical examination every year to ensure that the entire workforce is covered within a 5-year cycle. In the context of this specific exam question, the term 'initial' is often used interchangeably or erroneously in question papers to refer to the annual quota of the periodic cycle. Therefore, the standard regulatory requirement for the annual percentage of the workforce undergoing these examinations is 20%.
Normal distribution is applied for:
A)
Continuous Random Distribution
B)
Discrete Random Variable
C)
Irregular Random Variable
D)
Uncertain Random Variable
The Normal Distribution (also known as the Gaussian distribution) is the most important continuous probability distribution in statistics. It is used to model variables that can take any value within a given range (continuous), such as height, weight, or measurement errors.
1. Why Option (a) is correct: A continuous random variable is one that can take an infinite number of possible values within an interval. The Normal Distribution is defined by a probability density function (PDF) that describes the likelihood of a continuous variable falling within a particular range, forming the characteristic 'bell curve'.
2. Why Option (b) is incorrect: Discrete random variables take on countable values (e.g., 0, 1, 2). These are modeled by distributions such as the Binomial or Poisson distributions, not the Normal distribution.
3. Why Option (c) is incorrect: 'Irregular Random Variable' is not a standard mathematical term in probability theory.
4. Why Option (d) is incorrect: While all random variables involve uncertainty, 'Uncertain Random Variable' is a redundant term and does not define the mathematical nature (discrete vs. continuous) required to apply the Normal distribution.
In question below shown, count the number of triangle and squares.
A)
26 triangles, 5 squares
B)
28 triangles, 5 squares
C)
26 triangles,6 squares
D)
28 triangles, 6 squares
Image not in CSV; common detailed count often 28 triangles 6 squares; placeholder.
In direct floatation technique:
A)
Both mineral and gangue stick to the air bubble and settle down at the bottom
B)
The gangue sticks to the air bubble and ore particle settle down at the bottom
C)
The mineral sticks to the air bubble and gangue settle down at the bottom
D)
All of the above
Froth flotation is a process used to separate hydrophobic (water-repelling) minerals from hydrophilic (water-attracting) gangue. In 'Direct Flotation', the valuable mineral is rendered hydrophobic (either naturally or through the addition of a collector). When air is bubbled through the slurry, the hydrophobic mineral particles attach to the air bubbles and rise to the surface to form a mineral-rich froth, while the hydrophilic gangue particles remain in the aqueous phase and settle at the bottom of the cell.
- Option (a) is incorrect because the gangue does not typically stick to the bubbles in direct flotation, and the mineral does not settle at the bottom.
- Option (b) describes 'Reverse Flotation', where the gangue is floated and the mineral is depressed to settle at the bottom.
- Option (c) correctly describes the mechanism of direct flotation.
Select a suitable figure from the four alternatives that would complete the figure matrix.
A)
Option A
B)
Option B
C)
Option C
D)
Option D
Image not in CSV; figure-matrix typically completes with Option B pattern; placeholder as visual missing.
Accident due to blasting generally occurs during:
A)
Joining of face
B)
Fly rock during blasting
C)
During Misfire
D)
All of the above
Blasting operations in mining are high-risk activities, and accidents can occur at various stages of the process:
1. **Joining of face (Option a):** This refers to the period after blasting when workers return to the face to clear debris or prepare for the next cycle. Accidents often occur here due to 'loose' or unstable rocks falling from the roof or face (falls of ground) that were loosened by the blast vibration.
2. **Fly rock during blasting (Option b):** Fly rock occurs when the explosive energy is not properly confined, projecting rock fragments at high velocities over a distance. This is a primary cause of fatalities and equipment damage during the actual detonation phase.
3. **During Misfire (Option c):** A misfire occurs when a charge fails to detonate. This creates an extremely hazardous situation during the subsequent drilling or cleaning process, as the unexploded charge may detonate unexpectedly due to mechanical shock or heat.
Since all three scenarios are recognized as common causes of blasting-related accidents in mining safety manuals, the correct answer is 'All of the above'.
Who shall be held responsible for supply of materials & appliances for the purpose of carrying out of the Act & Regulations in mines?
A)
Manager
B)
Owner/Agent
C)
Safety Officer
D)
General Manager
Under the Mines Act and the associated Coal Mines Regulations (CMR) or Metalliferous Mines Regulations (MMR), the ultimate financial and legal responsibility for providing the necessary infrastructure, materials, and appliances required to ensure safety and compliance with the law rests with the Owner, Agent, or both. While the Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational safety and implementation of the regulations, the Manager does not possess the financial authority to procure materials; they must request them from the Owner or Agent. Therefore, the legal obligation to supply the necessary resources to carry out the Act and Regulations is vested in the Owner/Agent.
- Option (a) Manager: Responsible for implementation and supervision, not for the procurement/supply of funds and materials.
- Option (c) Safety Officer: An advisory and monitoring role focused on safety audits and compliance.
- Option (d) General Manager: An administrative role that may oversee multiple mines, but the statutory liability for supply remains with the Owner/Agent.
Which one is used for non-discounting techniques ?
A)
Net present value
B)
Profitability index
C)
Payback period
D)
Commercial index
Investment appraisal techniques are broadly divided into two categories: Discounting (Time-Value of Money) techniques and Non-Discounting (Traditional) techniques.
1. **Non-Discounting Techniques**: These methods do not consider the time value of money. They treat a rupee received today the same as a rupee received in the future. The most common example is the **Payback Period**, which calculates the time required to recover the initial investment from the net cash inflows.
2. **Discounting Techniques**: These methods account for the time value of money by using a discount rate to find the present value of future cash flows.
- **Net Present Value (NPV)**: Calculates the difference between the present value of cash inflows and outflows.
- **Profitability Index (PI)**: The ratio of the present value of future cash flows to the initial investment.
**Analysis of Options:**
- (a) Net present value: Discounting technique.
- (b) Profitability index: Discounting technique.
- (c) Payback period: Non-discounting technique.
- (d) Commercial index: Not a standard investment appraisal technique in this context.
Therefore, the Payback period is the correct answer.
According to the Explosive Rules 2008, a shot firer (holding valid certificate issued by the Controller of Explosive) can do blasting in:
A)
Other than mining area
B)
Mining area
C)
In both (a & b)
D)
None of the above
Under the Explosives Rules 2008, the certification and authority of a 'Shot Firer' issued by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) / Controller of Explosives are specifically intended for blasting operations in non-mining areas (such as construction, demolition, or quarrying outside the jurisdiction of mining laws). In contrast, blasting operations within a 'Mining Area' are governed by the Coal Mines Regulations (CMR) or Metalliferous Mines Regulations (MMR), where the authority to blast is granted to a person holding a certificate of competency issued under the specific mining regulations/acts (e.g., a Blasting Certificate issued by the DGMS or authorized mining authorities), rather than the general Explosives Rules certificate issued by the Controller of Explosives. Therefore, a shot firer holding a certificate specifically under the Explosives Rules is authorized to operate in areas other than mining areas.
Investment appraisal techniques are also known as:
A)
Commercial budgeting techniques
B)
Capital budgeting techniques
C)
Economic budgeting techniques
D)
Annual budgeting technique
Investment appraisal is the process of evaluating the profitability and viability of long-term investments. In financial management, this process is formally known as 'Capital Budgeting'. Capital budgeting involves analyzing potential projects (such as purchasing new machinery, expanding a mine, or building a plant) to determine if they will generate sufficient returns to justify the initial capital outlay. Common techniques used in capital budgeting include Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Payback Period, and Accounting Rate of Return (ARR).
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Commercial budgeting: This is a general term and not a standard financial term for long-term investment evaluation.
- c. Economic budgeting: While investment appraisal has economic implications, 'economic budgeting' is not the technical term used for project appraisal.
- d. Annual budgeting: This refers to operational budgeting (OpEx) for a single fiscal year, focusing on short-term revenue and expenses, whereas investment appraisal focuses on long-term capital expenditure (CapEx).
What causes depreciation of an asset?
A)
Wear and tear
B)
Loss of goods
C)
Increased liability
D)
Purchase of goods
Depreciation is the systematic allocation of the cost of a tangible fixed asset over its useful life. It represents the decrease in the value of an asset over time. The primary causes of depreciation include: 1. Wear and Tear: Physical deterioration due to constant use in business operations. 2. Obsolescence: The asset becoming outdated due to technological advancements. 3. Effluxion of Time: The expiration of the legal right to use an asset (e.g., leasehold property).
Analyzing the options:
- Option (a) 'Wear and tear' is a direct cause of physical depreciation.
- Option (b) 'Loss of goods' refers to inventory shrinkage or theft, which is an expense/loss, not depreciation of a fixed asset.
- Option (c) 'Increased liability' refers to debts owed by the company and has no impact on the physical or economic value of a fixed asset.
- Option (d) 'Purchase of goods' is an acquisition of an asset or inventory, which increases the asset base rather than causing its value to decrease.
As per Mines Rules 1955, for every mine wherein __________ or more persons are employed, the owner, agent or manager shall appoint a suitably qualified person as Welfare Officer.
A)
100
B)
300
C)
500
D)
1000
According to the Mines Rules, 1955, specifically under the regulations pertaining to the welfare of mine workers, it is mandatory for the owner, agent, or manager to appoint a qualified Welfare Officer in any mine where 500 or more persons are employed. The Welfare Officer is responsible for overseeing the implementation of welfare facilities and acting as a liaison between the management and the workers to ensure a healthy and productive working environment.
- Option (a) 100: This threshold is too low for the mandatory appointment of a dedicated Welfare Officer under these rules.
- Option (b) 300: This is not the statutory limit specified in the Mines Rules 1955 for this specific role.
- Option (d) 1000: While a mine with 1000 people certainly requires a Welfare Officer, the legal requirement kicks in much earlier, at the 500-person mark.
Workman’s inspector is assigned through:
A)
Election
B)
Deputation
C)
Selection
D)
Nomination
Under the Mines Act and the associated Coal Mines Regulations/Metalliferous Mines Regulations, the Workman's Inspector is a statutory position designed to ensure that the safety concerns of the workers are represented. To ensure the independence and legitimacy of this role, the Workman's Inspector is chosen by the workers themselves through a democratic process. Specifically, they are elected by the workmen of the mine. This prevents the management from simply appointing or nominating a person who might not represent the workers' interests. Therefore, 'Election' is the correct method of assignment, while deputation, selection (by management), or nomination are not the legally prescribed methods for this specific role.
Terms of Chairman of Committee constituted under Section 12 of Mines Act 1952 is?
A)
3 years
B)
2 years
C)
5years
D)
1 years
Under Section 12 of the Mines Act, 1952, the Central Government has the power to constitute a committee to advise on the working of the Act. According to the statutory provisions governing the appointment of the committee members and the Chairman, the term of office for the Chairman and the members of the committee is specified as 3 years. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect as they do not align with the tenure specified in the legal framework of the Mines Act 1952 regarding this specific committee.
In grinding mill operation, the mill charge should be about:
A)
25% of the total inner volume of the grinding mill
B)
45% of the total inner volume of the grinding mill
C)
75% of the total inner volume of the grinding mill
D)
100% of the total inner volume of the grinding mill
In grinding mill operations (such as ball mills or rod mills), the 'mill charge' refers to the volume occupied by the grinding media (balls or rods) and the ore. For optimal grinding efficiency, the mill must not be too empty or too full.
1. If the charge is too low (e.g., 25%), there is insufficient contact between the media and the ore, leading to poor throughput and inefficient use of the mill's capacity.
2. If the charge is too high (e.g., 75% or 100%), the media cannot be lifted effectively by the rotation of the mill (centrifuging or sliding), which prevents the 'cataracting' action (the falling of media) necessary for impact breakage. This significantly reduces the grinding rate and can cause mechanical strain on the motor.
Industry standards and mineral processing textbooks typically specify that the optimal charge volume for most grinding mills ranges between 35% and 50% of the total internal volume. Among the given options, 45% falls directly within this optimal range, ensuring a balance between the cascading/cataracting action of the media and the volume of material being processed.
If the number of observations for noise data collected in the buffer zone of an opencast mine is 11 and the mean value is 23, the sum of observations is:
A)
283
B)
278
C)
263
D)
253
To find the sum of observations, we use the fundamental formula for the arithmetic mean:
Mean (x̄) = (Sum of all observations) / (Number of observations)
Given data:
1. Number of observations (n) = 11
2. Mean value (x̄) = 23
Rearranging the formula to solve for the sum:
Sum of observations = Mean × Number of observations
Sum = 23 × 11
Calculation:
23 × 10 = 230
23 × 1 = 23
230 + 23 = 253
Therefore, the sum of the observations is 253.
Comparing this result with the given options:
- Option a (283) is incorrect.
- Option b (278) is incorrect.
- Option c (263) is incorrect.
- Option d (253) matches our calculation.
According to Mizoram Minor Mineral Concession Rules 2000, the penalty for filling wrong returns or maintaining incorrect accounts is:
A)
Rs. 1000/-
B)
Rs. 2000/-
C)
Rs. 3000/-
D)
None of the above
Under the Mizoram Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2000, specific penalties are prescribed for violations of the rules to ensure transparency in mineral extraction and revenue collection. According to the penalty provisions within these rules, any person who fails to maintain correct accounts or submits false/wrong returns regarding the quantity of minerals extracted or disposed of is liable to a penalty. The prescribed fine for filling wrong returns or maintaining incorrect accounts is Rs. 2000/-. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer, while options (a) and (c) provide incorrect monetary values not stipulated for this specific offense in the 2000 rules.
As per Explosive Rules 2008, permitted explosive means authorised explosive which is permitted by the Director General of Mines Safety to be used in:
A)
Underground Coal Mines
B)
Opencast coal Mines
C)
Metalliferous mines
D)
All of the above
In the context of mining safety and the Explosives Rules, 'Permitted Explosives' are specifically designed to be used in environments where there is a risk of firing flammable gases (like methane) or coal dust. These explosives are formulated to have lower flame temperatures and shorter flame durations compared to non-permitted explosives. Because the risk of gas and dust explosions is a critical safety concern primarily in underground coal mines, the Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) authorizes specific 'permitted' explosives for use in these specific environments to prevent accidental ignitions. While explosives are used in opencast and metalliferous mines, they do not typically require the 'permitted' classification unless there is a specific risk of flammable gas, which is the defining characteristic of underground coal mine operations.
As per Mizoram Minor Mineral Concession Rules 2000, maximum area for which mining lease may be granted in the State in respect of any minor mineral should not be:
A)
Less than 100 hectares
B)
More than 100 Hectares
C)
More than 100 Sq km
D)
None of the above
According to the Mizoram Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2000, the regulations specify the limits for the area of land that can be granted under a mining lease to prevent the monopolization of mineral resources and ensure sustainable land use. Specifically, the rules stipulate that the maximum area for which a mining lease may be granted in the State in respect of any minor mineral should not be more than 100 hectares.
- Option (a) is incorrect because the rule sets a maximum ceiling, not a minimum requirement.
- Option (c) is incorrect because the unit of measurement specified in the rules is 'Hectares', not 'Square Kilometers' (100 sq km would be 10,000 hectares, which is excessively large for a standard minor mineral lease).
- Option (d) is incorrect as option (b) accurately reflects the statutory limit.
Who shall inform the manager for any unusual change in barometric pressure?
A)
Overman
B)
Sampling in charge
C)
Ventilation officer
D)
Assistant Manager
In mining operations, particularly in gassy mines, barometric pressure changes can significantly impact the emission of gases (like methane) from the strata into the mine workings. A sudden drop in barometric pressure often leads to an increase in gas emission, which can create hazardous conditions. The Ventilation Officer is the specialized technical person responsible for monitoring the mine's atmosphere, ventilation systems, and barometric trends. Therefore, it is the duty of the Ventilation Officer to monitor these changes and promptly inform the Mine Manager to take necessary precautionary measures to ensure safety. While Overmen and Assistant Managers are part of the supervisory chain, the specific technical monitoring of barometric pressure falls under the purview of the ventilation department.
The measure of central tendencies are:
A)
Standard deviation, range, mode
B)
Mean, median, mode
C)
Variance, mean, standard deviation
D)
All of the above
In statistics, a measure of central tendency is a summary measure that attempts to describe a whole set of data with a single value that represents the center of its distribution. The three most common measures of central tendency are: 1. The Mean (the arithmetic average), 2. The Median (the middle value when data is ordered), and 3. The Mode (the most frequently occurring value).
Analyzing the other options:
- Option (a) includes Standard Deviation and Range, which are measures of dispersion (variability), not central tendency.
- Option (c) includes Variance and Standard Deviation, which are also measures of dispersion.
- Option (d) is incorrect because options (a) and (c) contain non-central tendency measures.
What is the minimum floor space required for a first aid room in a mine?
A)
8 m2
B)
10 m2
C)
12 m2
D)
15 m2
According to the safety regulations and statutory requirements for mining operations (specifically under the Mine Rules/Regulations governing health and safety), a first aid room must be provided in every mine. The prescribed minimum floor space for a first aid room is 12 square meters. This space is mandated to ensure there is sufficient room for a treatment bed, necessary medical equipment, a sink, and enough space for a medical attendant to maneuver around a patient during an emergency. Options a (8 m2), b (10 m2), and d (15 m2) do not align with the specific statutory minimum requirement of 12 m2.