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.
As of 2012, India is the largest producer of sheet mica, 2015 the fourth largest producer of iron
ore, alumina, chromite, and bauxite in the world. A coal and iron ore project is in the fifth largest reserve in
world. India's metal and mining industry was estimated to be $106.4 billion in 2010. [2]
In 2019, the country was the 4th largest world producer of iron ore;[3] 4th largest worldwide producer
of chromium;[4] 5th largest world producer of bauxite;[5] 5th largest world producer of zinc;[6] 7th largest
producer of manganese in the world;[7] 7th largest producer of lead in the world;[8] 7th largest producer
of sulfur in the world;[9] 11th largest world producer of titanium;[10] 18th largest world producer of phosphate;
[11]
16th largest world producer of gypsum;[12] 5th largest world producer of graphite;[13] 3rd largest world
producer of salt.[14] It was the 11th the world's largest producer of uranium in 2018
Gold mining
India has a long history of mining gold, but at a low level: 2020 gold mine production
was just 1.6 tonnes. Legacy processes are in part to blame: investment in the sector
has been discouraged by unwieldy processes.
The government has taken measures to address this through regulatory changes in
recent years such as the 2019 National Mineral Policy and early amendments to the
longstanding Mines and Minerals Act.
Indian gold reserves and resources are concentrated in Karnataka and Rajasthan. The majority of
these reserves are located in the state of Karnataka and account for 88% of the total; a further 12% are
situated in Andhra Pradesh and an insignificant amount (less than 0.1t) are found in Jharkhand.
Manali is a town, near Kullu town in Kullu district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.[2] It is situated in
the northern end of the Kullu Valley, formed by the Beas River. The town is located in the Kullu district,
approximately 270 kilometres (170 mi) north of the state capital of Shimla and 544 kilometres (338 mi)
northeast of the national capital of New Delhi. With a population of 8,096 people recorded in the 2011 Indian
census Manali is the beginning of an ancient trade route through Lahaul (H.P) and Ladakh, over
the Karakoram Pass and onto Yarkand and Hotan in the Tarim Basin of China. Manali is a popular tourist
destination in India and serves as the gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti district as well as the city
of Leh in Ladakh.