The Mining industry in India is a major economic activity which contributes significantly to the economy of India. The GDP contribution of the mining industry varies from 2.2% to 2.5% only but going by the GDP of the total industrial sector it contributes around 10% to 11%. Even mining done on small scale contributes 6% to the entire cost of mineral production. Indian mining industry provides job opportunities to around 700,000 individuals.
India is the largest producer of sheet mica, the third largest producer of iron ore and the fifth largest producer of bauxite in the world. India’s metal and mining industry was estimated to be $106.4bn (£68.5bn) in 2010.
However, the mining in India is also infamous for human right violations and environmental pollution. The industry has been hit by several high profile mining scandals in recent times.
Mineral/Metal | Rank | No 1 Rank Country |
Chromite | Second | South Africa |
Barytes | Second | China |
Talc/Steatite/Pyrophllite | Second | Brazil |
Coal | Third | China |
Bauxite | Third | Australia |
Iron Ore | Fourth | China |
Steel | Fourth | China |
Zinc | Fifth | China |
Copper | Eighth | Chile |
Mica | Eleventh | Russia |
Uranium | Australia | |
Silver | Mexico | |
Crude Oil | 22nd | Saudi Arabia |
Natural Gas | Turkmenistan |