Natural resources are found in an environment free from human interference. They are essential for the growth of every economy. India stands out among other countries because of the wide variety of landscapes it has, from forests to deserts, mountains to coasts, and beyond.

India is an incredible source of some important natural resources due to its diverse ecosystems. These natural resources are vital to the country’s economy and people’s ability to make a living. India has a wealth of water, minerals, forests, and rich soil, among other natural resources. Among India’s abundant natural resources is coal. In addition to huge deposits of manganese and iron ore, India also has the world’s fourth-largest coal reserves.

Several places in India include limestone, natural gas, diamonds, chromite, and arable land. Twenty-five percent of India’s oil needs are satisfied by the deposits situated in Bombay High.

Top 11 Natural Resources of India

Below is the list of the top 11 natural resources of India, based on the highest to lowest quantity of production of the resources in the country:

1. Arable land

2. Coal

3. Limestone

4. Iron ore

5. Bauxite

6. Natural Gas

7. Oil

8. Chromite

9. Manganese

10. Mica

11. Diamond

1. Arable Land

India has an extensive heritage of agricultural practices that dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Agrarian practices existed before the Indus Valley Civilization in substantial amounts in the southern region of the nation. Part of India’s most valuable natural resources, arable land helps fuel the country’s agrarian economy, which supplies food for its population.

India is a major global producer of rice, wheat, cotton, and sugarcane due to its diverse crop yields. Given the country’s ample arable land, agriculture provides a living for over 50% of India’s people. Worldwide, India ranks second in agricultural output. India’s agricultural exports were mostly targeted at developing and least developed nations. Horticultural and processed goods were shipped to 120 countries, mostly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the US, and the EU.

The irrigation systems that rely on rivers like the Yamuna and the Ganges also contribute to the expansion of agriculture. As a resource for food security and rural livelihoods in India, arable land is immensely valuable, even though it is being diminished due to increasing urbanization pressures. More and more people are putting pressure on farmers to adopt sustainable techniques to protect this valuable resource for the next generation.

2. Coal

India has the 2nd largest reserves of coal in the world, which are huge quantities of fuel. The first recorded commercial exploitation of coal in India occurred along the Damodar River in 1774 by an agent of the East Indian Company named Suetonius Grant Heatly. Hence started an era of extensive coal mining in India.

As the most plentiful fossil fuel, coal is also India’s primary electricity resource. It meets a large portion of the country’s energy demands. It generates electricity and supplies it to homes, businesses, and other commercial and industrial users. The commercial energy needs of India are met mostly by coal. India generates around 67% of its total commercial coal energy, called “Black Gold”. After steam locomotives were introduced in 1853, coal consumption increased and output reached 1 million metric tons per year.

The central and eastern parts of India have the country’s biggest and most significant coal deposits. The Jharia and Bokaro coal fields in Jharkhand are the most important because they provide high-quality coking coal, which is needed to make steel. Raniganj, one of India’s oldest coal mines, is another important source in West Bengal. The Korba coal field in Chhattisgarh provides thermal coal for power production. The biggest coal field in India, Talcher, supplies home and industrial needs in Odisha. The Singrauli coal field in Madhya Pradesh generates power. Indian thermal power stations and other businesses rely on these coal resources.

Also Read: Which Are the Biggest Coal Producers in the World?

3. Limestone

Limestone often occurs in rocks that also contain calcium carbonate or a mixture of the two minerals. Almost all sedimentary rocks contain it. It is impossible to process iron ore in a blast furnace without limestone, which is also a vital component in cement. Limestone deposits may be found in almost every state in India. The overall estimated limestone reserves in India are 344.8 million tonnes, including all grades and varieties.

The limestone deposits are highest in Karnataka, at over 28%, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, each with about 11%. Telangana has 8% of the total population, Gujarat has 10%, and Meghalaya has 9%. Jobs in limestone quarrying contribute to the local economy in the towns that are close to the quarries.
In addition to neutralizing acidic soils and lakes, limestone is an essential raw material in the production of cement, paper, concrete, and glass. The world’s biggest importer of limestone at the moment is India. Limestone is anticipated to have an increasing role in the pharmaceutical and food and beverage sectors. What this means is that the demand for limestone in India is going to escalate quickly.

4. Iron Ore

India is a major player in the iron ore production industry, with recoverable resources estimated to be 9,602 million tons. India ranked in 3rd place globally, following Brazil and Australia. Not only is India an important supplier in the iron ore industry, but it is also the world’s number two steel producer.

Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Odisha, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are some of the main locations in India that produce iron ore. About 226 million tons of iron ore were produced and exported by India in 2009 and 2010. In 2023 India’s iron ore production was approximately 245 million tons. Around 500 mines are operating right now, with over 80 distinct firms holding approximately half of these mines. The eastern and southern parts of India produce high-grade iron ore with 62% to 65% iron, whereas the western and southern parts extract low-grade ores with 50% to 60% iron.

The National Minerals Development Corporation (NMDC), a state-owned company, is the largest mining corporation in the nation. It produces over 29 million tons of iron ore, mostly for domestic use. China is the biggest consumer of iron ore from India. By 2030, India is expected to generate 300 m.t. of iron to fulfill rising domestic demand, which raises concerns about iron ore demand.

5. Bauxite

Bauxite is an essential mineral in the aluminium manufacturing process. Bauxite is found in tertiary deposits in association with laterite rocks across peninsular India’s plateaus, hill ranges, and beaches. The 24 million tonnes of bauxite deposits in India are more than enough to meet the country’s import and export demands.

Bauxite and aluminium have both seen tremendous increases in demand over the last decade, driven by the expansion of developing Asian countries. Of all the Indian states, Odisha produces the most bauxite. Kalahandi, Koraput, and Baragarh are the districts that include the primary bauxite belt. More than 15% of India’s bauxite comes from the state of Gujarat, making it the country’s second-largest producer. The most significant deposits may be located in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Kachchh, which run through the Bhavnagar, Junagadh, and Amreli districts.

Additionally, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Goa are known to have bauxite resources. A wide range of businesses rely on bauxite for their products, including those dealing with chemicals, refractories, abrasives, cement, steel, and gasoline.

6. Natural Gas

Also Read: Top 11 Natural Gas Producing Countries

Natural gas, which is mostly composed of methane, is a highly abundant resource on a global scale. The Indian gas market is projected to develop rapidly over the next two decades, with IEA predicting a 5.4% annual rise in demand from 2007-30 and will reach 132 bcm in 2030.

In terms of worldwide natural gas output, India is ranked 27th. Natural gas consumption in India increased in the late 1970s after big discoveries in the western offshore and the construction of the first transmission pipeline in the north. Natural gas is also produced in large quantities by onshore fields in the states of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, and Tripura.

Like the rest of India’s energy market, state-owned enterprises control the gas industry. Oil India Ltd. (OIL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) hold power in the upstream sector. Many different industries in India rely on natural gas as an energy source. The production of electricity, its use in industry, transportation, and domestic consumption are some of its main uses. The Indian government is emphasizing domestic exploration and production, particularly offshore, to enhance its worldwide rankings

7. Oil

Oil is an important component of India’s energy system and the country’s expanding economy, making it a crucial natural resource. The first oil reserves in India were found close to Digboi in the Assam state in 1889, marking the beginning of the oil business in India.

Imports play a significant role in meeting India’s consumption demands due to the country’s relatively stable production levels and increasing oil consumption. The biggest oil corporation in India is ONGC, which is controlled by the Indian government. According to estimations made by the Indian government, ONGC would be responsible for around 1% of the country’s oil production in 2023. Among the other prominent oil producers in the country are Oil India Limited (“OIL”), Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company, Sunpetro, Joshi Technologies, Niko, Vedanta Limited, and Reliance Industries Limited (“RIL”).

India now imports more oil than it exports, thus the government has instituted programs to increase oil production and exploration domestically. According to the government’s report, there will be a 40% rise in India’s oil consumption to 6.7 mt/day by 2030 and an additional 1.3 mt/day in 2050.

Also Read: Top 10 Countries With Largest Oil Reserves In World

8. Chromite

Chromite is an iron and chromium mineral. In 2022, 20% of the world’s chromite was produced in India. India produced 3.78 million MT of chromium, making it the fourth-largest producer in the world in the year 2023. Of the total, 94% are chromite deposits found in the Odisha ultramafic zone in the Sukinda and Nausahi areas. At this location, chromite is found in ultramafic rocks as pockets, lenses, thin seams, and stringers, as well as in concentrations.

Manipur, Nagaland, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are some of the other states that contribute to the country’s chromite resources. The chromite mining activities in Odisha were started in 2020 by Tata Steel Mining, a subsidiary of Tata Steel.

Chromite is extremely significant since it gives items its distinct properties. It is used in the manufacturing of high-quality stainless steel and heat-treated alloys with a wide range of potential commercial and defense applications. It’s also used in the production of chemicals, refractories, ferrochrome, charge-chrome, and other materials.

Also Read: What Are the Major Natural Resources Of Australia?

9. Manganese

Manganese is a highly brittle and hard mineral with a silvery gray color. Its existence with iron, laterite, and other minerals ensures its presence. As an important sign of a developing industrial economy, manganese in alloy form is essential to the steelmaking process. When it comes to manganese ore production, India ranks fifth globally. About five percent of the world’s manganese comes from India, making it another important producer.

Manganese ore production was 2.45 million metric tons in the fiscal year 2021–22. By 2023, it increased to 2.91 million tons. States like Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are the main producers of manganese ore. The states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh account for over 50% of India’s manganese production. More than 80% of the output stays inside the country, while only 20% is exported.

Among the most prominent mining corporations are Tata Steel, Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Ltd., and MOIL (Manganese Ore India Limited). As a result of the local market’s fast-increasing demand, manganese exports have been falling. The reason is, that sectors using manganese as a key input have been growing recently.

10. Mica

The increasing demand for mica as a mineral commodity has led to a surge in interest in the worldwide mica mining sector. Mica is used in many different sectors, including those dealing with cosmetics, automobiles, and architecture. About 4,000 years ago, Indians began mining mica for its medicinal properties; today, some Hindu doctors still employ biotite mica in their treatments. Mica was also a common material in ancient art and architecture, used as a window pane, and a drawing or painting surface. India ranks top among the world’s leading producers of mica in both its scrap and flake forms as well as its sheet mica.

The northern border of the Chota Nagpur plateau in India is home to mica resources. The most prominent producer is located in the Koderma Gaya–Hazaribagh area of Jharkhand. The Ajmer region is the most important mica-producing region in Rajasthan. Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore mica belt is another major producer in the nation. With a 75% growth from 2006 to 2015, mica exports from India increased continuously in recent years, reaching an estimated 0.7 million tonnes in 2023.

Mining for mica in India is bad for the environment since it leads to deforestation, pollution from silica dust, and trash from mica. The UN SDGs and Basiago’s Development Theory of Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability show that these practices are unsustainable. Despite its worldwide dominance, the sector does not support sustainable industrialization.

11. Diamond

Mines for diamonds in India date back to ancient times. Before diamonds were found in Brazil in 1726, India was the sole region on Earth where diamonds could be found. Diamond mining continues to remain strong in India, even though the nation has not been a big producer of diamonds since the 1900s. The city of Surat in the Indian state of Gujarat is also famous as a center for the diamond cutting and polishing business.

In the past, diamonds were mined in India mostly in the Andhra Pradesh region known as Golkonda, which is located along the Krishna River. Surrounded by Hyderabad, this region rose to prominence as the premier diamond-cutting and trade hub on a global scale. The Majhgawan mines, located near Panna in the Bundelkhand district of Madhya Pradesh, are the only industrial-scale diamond mine in India right now.

The NMDC, a federal government agency, owns the mine and has an annual production capacity of over 84,000 carats. Famous Indian diamonds, including Dresden Green, Florentine, Great Mogul, Orloff, Koh-i-Nur, Pitt (Regent), and Hope, originated in the southern area, with Golconda as the main market. Among Indian diamonds, the Great Mogul stands most prominent and is the third biggest gem-quality diamond.

Natural Resources of India	Quantity of Production- 2023
Arable Land	156.1 million hectares
Coal	997.25 million tons
Limestone	344.8 million tonnes
Iron Ore	245 million tonnes
Bauxite	24 million tonnes
Natural Gas	34.4 billion cubic meters (around 25.8 million tonnes)
Oil	29.7 million tonnes
Chromite	3.78 million tonnes
Manganese	2.91 million tonnes
Mica	0.7 million tonnes
Diamond	0.037 million carats

Conclusion

To sum up, the natural resources of India are essential for the country’s overall growth and the foundation for all major industries including agriculture, manufacturing, energy generation, and infrastructure. Natural gas and oil deposits, large coal fields, mineral reserves, and arable land are only a few of the many resources that the country has.

These resources help make India a major player in the global economy and provide employment for millions of people. To strike this balance between rapid economic development and environmental preservation, India needs to make prudent use of its abundant natural resources. The key to the country’s future prosperity is making responsible use of its abundant natural resources in a way that keeps them for future generations.

FAQs

Which Country Has the Largest Amount of Natural Resources?

The Democratic Republic of Congo is regarded as the richest country in terms of natural resources.

Which Mineral Does India Produce the Most?

India is the largest producer of mica in the world.

Which Indian State Has the Most Minerals?

Orissa is called India’s Mineral State because of its significant mineral production.

Which Crop Is Most Commonly Exported From India?

Rice accounts for almost 20% of India’s agricultural exports.

What Is India’s Primary Energy Source?

Coal is India’s main fossil fuel. It supplies 55% of the nation’s energy.

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What Are The Major Natural Resources Of India?