________ is the leading manganese ore producing State of India and accounted for of the total production in 2018-19.

Correct option is B

• The correct answer is (B) Madhya Pradesh.
• Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of manganese in India.
• Manganese is needed to build iron. It is also used to produce bleaching powder, insecticides, and paints.
• It is used to make metal.
• Madhya Pradesh, the major manganese ore producing state, accounted for 33% of the total production in 2018-19, followed by Maharashtra (27%) and Odisha (16%).
• Manganese is used to make clear glass, to desulfurize and deoxidize steel in steel production, and to reduce the octane rating in gasoline.
• It also is used as a black-brown pigment in paint and as a filler in dry cell batteries.
• Its alloys help stiffen the aluminium in soft-drink cans, according to Chemicool.
• Manganese production in India Odisha has the largest manganese reserves (44%) in the country, followed by Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, etc.
• India ranks third in the production of manganese ore in the world, next only to Russia and South Africa.
• Although Manganese deposits are found in almost all geological formations, it is mainly associated with Dharwar system.
• The important areas of production are Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Over 78% of the total reserves of manganese ore of India occur in a belt stretching from Nagpur and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra to Balaghat and Chindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.
• Karnataka is another major producer which accounts for 26% of the country’s total production and here the mines are located in Dharwar, Ballari, Belagavi, North Canara, Chikkmagaluru, Shivamogga, Chitradurga, a and Tumakuru.
• Maharashtra is also an important producer of manganese, which is mined in Nagpur, Bhandara, and Ratnagiri districts.
• The manganese belt of Madhya Pradesh extends in a belt in Balaghat-ChhindwaraNimar-Mandla and Jhabua districts.
• About 85% of total manganese consumption in India is used by metallurgical industries.
• Confusing points: Odisha has the highest reserve of Manganese ore in our country while the maximum Manganese producing state is MP.