INDIAN MINING INDUSTRY

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION OF MINING INDUSTRY

Mining in India

The Darya-i-Noor diamond from the Iranian Crown Jewels, originally from the mines of
Golconda, Telangana
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.

1.1 Introduction
The tradition of mining in the region is ancient and underwent modernization alongside the rest
of the world as India has gained independence in 1947. The economic reforms of 1991 and the
1993 National Mining Policy further helped the growth of the mining sector. India's minerals
range from both metallic and non-metallic types. The metallic minerals comprise ferrous and
non-ferrous minerals, while the nonmetallic minerals comprise mineral fuels, precious stones,
among others.
D.R. Khullar holds that mining in India depends on over 3,100 mines, out of which over 550 are
fuel mines, over 560 are mines for metals, and over 1970 are mines for extraction of nonmetals.
The figure given by S.N. Padhi is: 'about 600 coal mines, 35 oil projects and 6,000 metalliferous
mines of different sizes employing over one million persons on a daily average basis.' Both open
cast mining and underground mining operations are carried out and drilling/pumping is
undertaken for extracting liquid or gaseous fuels. The country produces and works with roughly
100 minerals, which are an important source for earning foreign exchange as well as satisfying
domestic needs. India also exports iron ore, titanium, manganese, bauxite, granite, and imports
cobalt, mercury, graphite etc.
Unless controlled by other departments of the Government of India mineral resources of the
country are surveyed by the Indian Ministry of Mines, which also regulates the manner in which
these resources are used. The ministry oversees the various aspects of industrial mining in the
country. Both the Geological Survey of India and the Indian Bureau of Mines are also controlled
by the ministry.Natural gas, petroleum and atomic minerals are exempt from the various
activities of the Indian Ministry of Mines.

1.2 History

Indian coal production is the 3rd highest in the world according to the 2008 Indian Ministry of
Mines estimates. Shown above is a coal mine in Jharkhand.
Flint was known and exploited by the inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization by the 3rd
millennium BCE. P. Biagi and M. Cremaschi of Milan University discovered a number of
Harappan quarries in archaeological excavations dating between 1985-1986. Biagi (2008)
describes the quarries: 'From the surface the quarries consisted of almost circular empty areas,
representing the quarrypits, filled with aeolian sand, blown from the Thar Desert dunes, and
heaps of limestone block, deriving from the prehistoric mining activity. All around these
structures flint workshops were noticed, represented by scatters of flint flakes and blades among
which typical Harappan-elongated blade cores and characteristic bullet cores with very narrow
bladelet detachments.' Between 1995 and 1998, Accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon
dating of Zyzyphus cf. nummularia charcoal found in the quarries has yielded evidence that the
activity continued into 1870-1800 BCE.
Minerals subsequently found mention in Indian literature. George Robert Rappon the subject
of minerals mentioned in India's literatureholds that:
Sanskrit texts mention the use of bitumen, rock salt, yellow orpiment, chalk, alum, bismuth,
calamine, realgar, stibnite, saltpeter, cinnabar, arsenic, sulphur, yellow and red ochre, black sand,
and red clay in prescriptions. Among the metals used were gold, silver, copper, mercury, iron,
iron ores, pyrite, tin, and brass. Mercury appeared to have been the most frequently used, and is

called by several names in the texts. No source for mercury or its ores has been located. Leading
to the suggestion that it may have been imported.

1.3 Geographical distribution

The distribution of minerals in the country is uneven and mineral density varies from region to
region. D.R. Khullar identifies five mineral 'belts' in the country: The North Eastern Peninsular
Belt, Central Belt, Southern Belt, South Western Belt, and the North Western Belt. The details of
Mineral Belt Location
Minerals found
Coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, copper,
North
Eastern
Peninsular
Belt

Chota

Nagpur

plateau

and the Orissa plateau

covering the states of
Jharkhand, West Bengal
and Orissa.

kyanite, chromite, beryl, apatite etc. Khullar calls this

region the mineral heartland of India and further cites
studies to state that: 'this region possesses India's 100
percent Kyanite, 93 percent iron ore, 84 percent coal, 70
percent chromite, 70 percent mica, 50 percent fire clay,
45 percent asbestos, 45 percent china clay, 20 percent
limestone and 10 percent manganese.'
Manganese, bauxite, uranium, limestone, marble, coal,

Chhattisgarh,

Andhra gems, mica, graphite etc. exist in large quantities and the

Central Belt Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh net extent of the minerals of the region is yet to be
and Maharashtra.

assessed. This is the second largest belt of minerals in

the country.

Southern

Karnataka

Belt
South

Tamil Nadu.

plateau

and

Ferrous minerals and bauxite. Low diversity.

Karnataka and Goa.

Iron ore, garnet and clay.
Western Belt
North
Rajasthan and Gujarat Non-ferrous minerals, uranium,

mica,

beryllium,

Western Belt along the Aravali Range. aquamarine, petroleum, gypsum and emerald.
the various geographical 'belts' are given in the table below:India has yet to fully explore the
mineral wealth within its marine territory, mountain ranges, and a few states e.g. Assam.

1.4 Agencies involved in exploration

In India, systematic surveying, prospecting and exploration for minerals is undertaken by the
Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI), Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), National
Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Bharat Gold Mines
Limited (BGML), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), National Aluminium Company Limited
(NALCO) and the Departments of Mining and Geology in various states. The Centre for Techno
Economic Mineral Policy Options (C-TEMPO) is a think tank under the Ministry of Mines
which looks at the national exploration policy.

1.5 Minerals

The distribution of minerals in India according to the United States Geological Survey.
Along with 48.83% arable land, India has significant sources of coal (fourth-largest reserves in
the world), bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, and limestone.
According to the 2008 Ministry of Mines estimates: 'India has stepped up its production to reach
the second rank among the chromite producers of the world. Besides, India ranks 3rd in
production of coal & lignite, 2nd in barites, 4th in iron ore, 5th in bauxite and crude steel, 7th in
manganese ore and 8th in aluminium.
India accounts for 12% of the world's known and economically available thorium. It is the
world's largest producer and exporter of mica, accounting for almost 60 percent of the net mica
production in the world, which it exports to the United Kingdom, Japan, United States of
America etc. As one of the largest producers and exporters of iron ore in the world, its majority
exports go to Japan, Korea, Europe and the Middle East. Japan accounts for nearly 3/4 of India's
total iron ore exports. It also has one of the largest deposits of manganese in the world, and is a
leading producer as well as exporter of manganese ore, which it exports to Japan, Europe
(Sweden, Belgium, Norway, among other countries), and to a lesser extent, the United States of
America.

1.6 Production
The net production of selected minerals in 2005-06 as per the Production of Selected Minerals
Ministry of Mines, Government of India is given in the table below:
Mineral
Coal
Lignite
Natural Gas
Petroleum
Bauxite
Copper
Gold
Iron Ore
Lead
Manganese Ore
Zinc
Diamond
Gypsum
Limestone
Phosphorite

1.7 Exports

Quantity
403
29
31,007
32
11,278
125
3,048
140,131
93
1,963
862
60,155
3,651
170
1,383

Unit
Million tonnes
Million tonnes
Million cubic metres
Million tonnes
Thousand tonnes
Thousand tonnes
Thousand grammes
Thousand tonnes
Thousand tonnes
Thousand tonnes
Thousand tonnes
Carats
Thousand tonnes
Million tonnes
Thousand tonnes

Mineral type
Fuel
Fuel
Fuel
Fuel
Metallic Mineral
Metallic Mineral
Metallic Mineral
Metallic Mineral
Metallic Mineral
Metallic Mineral
Metallic Mineral
Non Metallic Mineral
Non Metallic Mineral
Non Metallic Mineral
Non Metallic Mineral

Mine shaft at Kolar Gold Fields.

The net exports selected of minerals in 2004-05 as per the Exports of Ores and Minerals
Ministry of Mines, Government of India is given in the table below:
Mineral
Alumina
Bauxite
Coal
Copper
Gypsum & plaster
Iron ore
Lead
Limestone
Manganese ore
Marble
Mica
Natural gas
Sulphur
Zinc

Quantity exported in 2004-05

896,518
1,131,472
1,374
18,990
103,003
83,165
81,157
343,814
317,787
234,455
97,842
29,523
2,465
180,704

Unit
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes
th tonnes

1.8 Legal and constitutional framework

India is not a signatory to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative [EITI. But, on
national scale, there are legal and constitutional framework to manage the mineral sector:

The policy level guidelines for mineral sector is given by the National Mineral Policy of
2008.

Mining operations are regulated under the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) [MMDR] Act of 1957.

The State Governments, as owners of minerals, grant mineral concessions and collect
royalty, dead rent and fees as per the provisions of MMDR Act 1957. These revenues are

held in the Consolidated Fund of State Government until the state legislature approves
their use through budgetary processes.

In a recent development, the Supreme Court has said that "Ownership of minerals should
be vested with the owner of the land and not with the government."

The subject of mineral regulation and development occurs at S.No. 23 of the State list in the
VIIth schedule to the Constitution. However the Constitution circumscribes this power, by giving
Parliament the power under S.No. 54 of the Central list in the VIIth schedule, to enact
legislation, and to this extent the States will be bound by the Central legislation. The Mines and
Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act 1957 is the main Central legislation in force for the
sector. The Act was enacted when the Industrial Policy Resolution 1957 was the guiding policy
for the sector, and thus was aimed primarily at providing a mineral concession regime in the
context of the metal making public sector undertakings. After the liberalization in 1991, a
separate National Mineral Policy was promulgated in 1993 which set out the role of the private
sector in exploration and mining and the MMDR Act was amended several times to provide for a
reasonable concession regime to attract the private sector investment including FDI, into
exploration and mining in accordance with NMP 1993.
The Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 was enacted so as to provide
for the regulation of mines and development of minerals under the control of the Union. The Act
has been amended in 1972, 1986, 1994 and 1999 in keeping with changes in the policy on
mineral development. The Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act,
1999, inter-alia, provides for (a) introduction of a new concept of reconnaissance operations
distinct from prospecting; (b) delegation of powers to the State Governments to grant mineral
concessions for limestone; (c) granting of mineral concession in non- compact and noncontiguous areas; (d) liberalizing the maximum area limits for prospecting licences and mining
leases; (e) empowering the State Governments to make rules to curb the illegal mining etc.

1.9 Issues with mining

One of the most challenging issues in India's mining sector is the lack of assessment of India's
natural resources. A number of areas remain unexplored and the mineral resources in these areas
are yet to be assessed. The distribution of minerals in the areas known is uneven and varies
drastically from one region to another. India is also looking to follow the example set by
England, Japan and Italy to recycle and use scrap iron for ferrous industry.
The first National Mineral Policy(NMP) was enunciated by the Government in 1993 for
liberalization of the mining sector. The National Mineral Policy, 1993 aimed at encouraging the
flow of private investment and introduction of state-of-the-art technology in exploration and

mining. In the Mid-Term Appraisal of the Tenth Five-Year Plan, it was observed that the main
factors responsible for lack of success of the Policy were procedural delays in the processing of
applications for mineral concessions and the absence of adequate infrastructure in the mining
areas. To go into the whole gamut of issues relating to the development of the mineral sector and
suggest measures for improving the investment climate the Mid-Term Appraisal had proposed
the establishment of a High Level Committee. Accordingly, the Government of India, Planning
Commission, constituted a Committee on 14 September 2005. under the Chairmanship of Shri
Anwarul

Hoda,

Member,

Planning

Commission

.The

Committee

made

detailed

recommendations on all of its terms of Reference in December 2006 .Based on the

recommendations of the High Level Committee, in consultation with State Governments, the
Government replaced the National Mineral Policy, 1993 with a new National Mineral Policy on
13 March 2008.
Under the British Raj a committee of experts formed in 1894 formulated regulations for mining
safety and ensured regulated mining in India. The committee also passed the 1st Mines act of
1901 which led to a substantial drop in mining related accidents. The accidents in mining are
caused both by man-made and natural phenomenon, for example explosions and flooding. The
main causes for incidents resulting in serious injury or death are roof fall, methane gas explosion,
coal dust explosion, carbon monoxide poisoning, vehicular accidents, falling/slipping and
hauling related incidents.
In recent decades, mining industry has been facing issues of large scale displacements, resistance
of locals - as reported by the Indian journalist Aditi Roy Ghatak in the magazine D+C
Development and Cooperation -, human rights issues like indentured labour as reported by the
List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor and environmental issues like
pollution, corruption, deforestation and dangers to animal habitats.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_India

Size of the Industry

Geographical distribution
Output per annum
Market capitalization

1.1 History
Indian Mining Industry has been a major mineral producer in Asia and globally. Currently it is
the global producer of chromite, coal, iron ore and bauxite while enjoying economic growth
during the nineties. Mining is over 6000 years old in India. The oldest mines include lead-zinc
mineral deposits at Zawar, copper deposits at Khetri, and gold deposits in Karnataka. The mining
techniques used back then were much ahead of their time and technology specially the smelting
techniques. A timeless example and monument of the mastery of the old times craftsmen is the
Iron Pillar in the Qutab Minar complex in New Delhi. India's current state owned mining and
benefitted companies have been facing drastic production cuts, resulting in operations becoming
uneconomical which has eventually resulted in the closure of several mining operations. Reasons
have been given as lower grade reserves and excessive manpower quotas for poor results.

Since the initiation of National Mineral Policy in 1993, India has made good progress in
attracting foreign investment in its mining sector, along with attractive incentives. The National
Mineral Policy was revised again in 1994 and as a result, private investment (both domestic and
foreign), has been permitted for the exploration and exploitation of the following minerals: Iron ore, Copper, Manganese, Lead, Chrome ore, Zinc, Sulphur, Molybdenum, Gold, Tungsten ore,
Diamond,

Nickel

and

Platinum

group

of

metals.

Due to all these efforts of the Indian Mining Industry several foreign companies have begun
investing in India, with the majority usually coming from Canada and the USA, Australia, UK
and South Africa. Mostly the demand is for base metals, diamond, mineral sands and gold
sectors.

To assist in the development of the country's mineral resources India has set up several
governmental agencies like the The Geological Survey of India (GSI) which is the principal
agency responsible for the assessment of geological and regional mineral resources of the
country established in 1851 and is one of India's oldest investigative agencies in the field of earth
sciences. Its areas of operation help the scientific surveys and research, for locating mineral
resources. GSI office operates through six regional offices and four specialized wings - marine,
coal

geophysics,

airborne

surveys

and

training.

Other one is The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) which is the principal government agency
responsible for compiling exploration data and mineral maps and for providing access to the
latest information in respect of mineral resources in the country. IBM has both regulatory as well
as service functions.

1.2 Brief Introduction

For any nation, Minerals constitute the back-bone for economic growth and India has been
eminently and enormously endowed with this gift of nature. Since long time there are many
evidences that exploitation of minerals like coal, iron-ore, copper, lead-zinc has been going on in
the country from time immemorial. The first recorded history of mining in India dates back to
1774 when English Company was granted permission by the East India Company for mining
coal in Raniganj. In 1880 M/s John Taylor & Sons Ltd. started gold mining in Kolar Gold Fields
in Karnataka.

In Digboi, Assam the first oil well was drilled in the year 1866 which was just seven years after
the first ever oil well was drilled anywhere in the world viz in Pennsylvania State, USA in 1859.
Mining activities in India remained primitive in nature and modest in scale until the beginning of
the current century. Therefore, with progressive industrialization the demand for the production
of various minerals gradually went up. After India became independent, growth of mining under
the impact of successive Five Year Plans has been very fast and huge. There are ambitious plans
in coal, metalliferous and oil sectors to increase production of minerals during the 8th Five Year
Plan and thereafter.

1.3 Market capitalization

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 0.7 million individuals.

1.4 Size of the industry

India is the seventh largest country which extensively spreads over an area of 3.29 million square
kilometers. The Indian mining industry is the backbone of Industries in the country. The mining
industry is the main source of raw material for most of the industries producing as many as 84
minerals comprising 4 fuels, 11 metallic, 49 non metallic and 20 minor minerals. Today India has
resources of 12745 MT of iron ore, 2,525 MT of bauxite, 233 MT of magnesite, 76446 MT of
limestone, 70 MT of barites, 167 MT of lead & zinc ore, 176 MT of manganese ore and 90 MT
of

chromite.

India has the largest reserves of barites in the world. Total value of mineral production of Indian
Mining Industry is Rs. 568070 million in 2000-2001. The metallic production constitutes the
iron-ore, chromite, copper-ore, zinc concentrates, manganese ore, gold, bauxite, lead
concentrates. Amongst the non-metallic minerals, 90% of the aggregate value is contributed by
the limestone, gypsum, barites, magnesite, dolomite, kaolin, apatite & steatite, phosphorite and
fluorite.

1.5 Mining Products in India

Indian Mining Industry produces many products which include a total of 84 minerals consisting
of, 49 non-metallic industrial minerals, 11 metallic minerals, 4 fuels and 20 minor minerals. The
products are like molybdenum, nickel, oil sands, palladium, Aluminium, coal, cobalt, copper,
chromium, tantalum, tin, titanium, diamond, gold, iron ore, lead, manganese, platinum, silver,
vanadium, tungsten, uranium, zinc, etc.

1.6 Coal: Deposits and Exploration

The major workable coal deposits in India occur in two distinct stratigraphic horizons - Permian,
commonly known as "Gondwana" coals and the Tertiary. India's 99% coal resources are found
within a great succession of fresh water sediments. The Indian major coalfields are represented
by isolated basins which occur along prominent present day river valleys, viz., Damodar, Koel,
Sone-Mahanadi, Pench-Kanhan, and Pranhita-Godavari. Country's nearly 50 coalfields, varying
in size from a few km to to as much as 1500 km are known today, barring the small occurrences
of

coal

along

the

Himalayan

foothills.

There are two categories of Indian bituminous coals namely, coking and non-coking. Coal
exploration in India today is largely being carried out by conventional methods of systematic
geological mapping followed by drilling, core drilling playing a dominant role. Today due to the
modern exploration techniques like photo-geology, remote sensing, and non-coring drilling,
geophysical surveys etc. are used for detailed and precise exploration.

1.7 Domestic and Export Share

In the year 2007-08, the Export value of ores and minerals was US$ 20.44 billion. Diamond
(mostly cut) was the principal item of exporting which accounted for 60 per cent, followed by
iron ore with a contribution of 24.6 per cent, granite 4.51 per cent, Zinc ore and concentrate 1.35
per cent, chromite 1.29 per cent, Bauxite 1.24 per cent and alumina 1.07 per cent. In the year
2007-08 important minerals being exported were building and monumental stones, emerald, coal
(including lignite), marble, etc.

1.8 Mining Companies in India

NCDC - National Coal Development Corporation of India

NMDC - National Mineral Development Corporation of India

BALCO - Bharat Aluminium Company

PPCL - Pyrites, Phosphates and Chemicals Ltd.

HZL - Hindustan Zinc Ltd.

NLCL - Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited

HCL - Hindustan Copper Ltd.

BGML - Bharat Gold Mines ltd.

SAIL - Steel Authority of India Limited (formerly Hindustan Steel Ltd.)

1.9 Employment Opportunities

This sector has opportunities knocking at
the door for skilled professionals who
would be very much familiar with the
Mining patterns of the Country. Due to
the amendments in the MM (R&D) Act &
Mines and Minerals (Regulation and
Development) Act in 1996, opening up of
private players by the government has
taken various steps to encourage the
investments in the sector. With the recent
formation of the New National Mining
Policy in place, the Ministry of Mines
plans

to attract investments of Rs

1,00,000 crore in the mining sector.

1.10 Pollution
Indian Mining Industry is classified under the category of "Red" for pollution which represents
highly polluting industries.

1.11 India's contribution in the mineral production in world

1. India today has the capacity to produce 86 minerals which include 4 fuels, 10
metallic, 46 non-metallic, 3 atomic and 23 minor minerals & si the leading
producer of mica blocks and splitting.
2. Indian

Mining

Industry

ranks

2nd

in

barites,

chromite

and

talc/steatite/pyrophillite;
3. India ranks 3rd in coal & lignite and bauxite;
4. India ranks 4th in iron ore and kyanite/sillimanite;
5. India ranks 5th in manganese ore and steel (crude);
6. India ranks 7th in zinc; and
7. Ranks 8th in aluminium

1.12 Latest developments

New export tax on Iron ore retarding India-China trade

The powerful economies in world around Asia, India and China are trade
partners in some of the most vital metals, minerals and other such resources are
very much needed for the economic growth.
The financial year 1999-2000 saw 60% increase in the exports of iron ore to
China by India. China's top imports include Mineral fuel and oil, Iron & steel,
Ore, slag and ash & Copper and related articles. The major portion of the India's
import to China constitutes primary products like ores. Indian exports to China
the top export items that account for the maximum percentage of transactions.
The following figures of 2003-04 reveal this:

o Top 3 export items accounted for 58.7% of total exports

o Top 5 export items accounted for 70.1% of total exports
o Top 10 export items accounted for 83.9% of total exports

FDI In Indian Mining And Minerals Industry

Ministry of Mining formulated the National Mining Policy by raising the level of
domestic and foreign direct investments in the sector to Rs 1,00,000 crore. This
new policy of Indian Mining Industry aims at promoting growth of the
Industry.The Industry plans to create employment for about 5 lakh skilled and
unskilled labour force in the industry which currently employs 1.1 million people

Indian Companies Going Abroad

India today has been able set up companies by going abroad and acquiring other
firms with similar profiles and is also investing in their assets overseas. Indian
Mining Industry is making its presence felt across the globe, for instance from an
offshore oil field in Australia to a steel company in Thailand. Amongst the Indian
private players, Reliance Energy Limited (REL) owned by Anil Ambani is
exploring the options of getting the coal mines in Indonesia and Australia. These
efforts usually meet the requirements of coal as raw material for its upcoming
projects in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. REL's total investment would be of
around $ 500 million if this deal under consideration gets finalized.

Indian Industries
Classified underREDcategory
Classified underORANGEcategory
Classified underGREENcategory

INDIAN MINING INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE IN 2014 - 2015

India is the world's third-largest producer of coal with a production of 565.6 million tonnes (MT)
in FY14. It has the fifth-largest coal reserves in the world at about 301.6 billion tonnes (BT). The
country

is

expected

to

become

the

second-largest

steel

producer

by

2015.

The metal and mining industry of India is expected to reach 305.5 billion in 2015. Production
volumes have also been growing steadily over the years, it registered a CAGR of 5.2 per
cent.The Government of India has allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the
Mining sector under the automatic route. Mining lease has been granted for a long duration of
minimum 20 years and up to 30 years.The National Mineral Policy was revised in 1994 and as a
result, private investment has been permitted for the exploration of the following minerals:

Iron ore, Copper, Manganese, Lead, Chrome Ore, Zinc, Sulphur, Molybdenum, Gold, Tungsten
ore, Diamond, Nickel and Platinum group of metals. Hence several foreign companies have
begun investing in India, like Canada , the USA, Australia, the UK and South Africa.

There is significant scope for new mining capacities in iron ore, bauxite, and coal. Untapped
metal reserves in India are to the tune of 82 Billion Tonnes. Strong long-term demand from the
Indian industry is expected to further boost the Indian Mining industry.

http://www.indianmirror.com/indian-industries/2015/mining-2015.html