India is endowed with significant mineral resources. India produces 89 minerals out of which 4 are fuel minerals, 11 metallic, 52 non-metallic and 22 minor minerals.The total value of mineral production was Rs. 568070 million in 2000-2001, of which the value of minerals other than petroleum and natural gas was Rs. 306751 million. The metallic production is accounted for by iron-ore, copper-ore, chromite and/or zinc concentrates, gold, manganese ore, bauxite, lead concentrates. Amongst the non-metallic minerals, more than 90 percent of the aggregate value is shared by limestone, magnesite, dolomite, barytes, kaolin, gypsum, apatite & phosphorite, steatite and fluorite. India is the world’s largest producer of mica blocks and mica splittings. With the recent spurt in world demand for chromite. India has stepped up its production to rech 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.
The Ministry of Mines is responsible for the survey and exploration of all minerals( other than natural gas and petroleum), for mining and metallurgy of non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, gold, nickel, etc., and for the administration of the Mines and Minerals ( Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 in respect of all mines and minerals, other than coal, natural gas and petroleum.The Ministry of Mines has juridiction over Geological Survey of India and Indian Bureau of Mines, both of which are subordinate offices.
The public sector contributes over 85 percent of the total value of mineral production.
. However, it is the avowed policy of the Government to withdrow from the non-strategic sectors and accordingly the public sector underkings are being privatised in a phased manner.Public sector enterprises like the National Mineral Development Corporation, Kudremukh Iron Ore company, Steel Authority of India Limited and Orissa Mining Corporation dominate the iron ore sector. National Aluminium Company contributes about 35% bauxite mining and aluminium production. Hindustan Copper Limited predominates the copper ore mining sector. After cessation of economic operations in Bharat Gold Mines Limited since 2000, Hutti Gold Mines Limited (a Government of Karnataka undertaking), is the only undertaking engaged in the mining of gold. Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited and Andhra Pradesh Mining Development Corporation predominate the mining of rock phosphate and barytes respectively.
The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) established in 1948, is a multi-disciplinary government organisation under the Department of Mines, Ministry of Mines, engaged in promotion of conservation, scientific development of mineral resources and protection of environment in mines other than coal, petroleum & natural gas, atomic minerals and minor minerals.From a small beginning as a purely advisory body, the IBM has emerged into a premier national organisation involved deeply into the various aspects of the mineral industry. Headed by the Controller General, IBM has six technical divisions with its head quarters at Nagpur. There is a Modern Mineral Processing Laboratory and Pilot Plant established with the assistance of United Nations Development Programme at Nagpur. IBM has 3 Zonal Offices, 12 Regional Offices and 2 Sub-Regional Offices , 2 Regional Ore Dressing Laboratories and Pilot Plants spread over the Country. The IBM offices are located at Ajmer Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Chennai, Dehra Dun, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Nellore, Ranchi, and Udaipur; and the Pilot plants & Ore Dressing Laboratories at Ajmer, Bangalore, and Nagpur. .In the last decade, with the change in the policy of Government, two very important activities were undertaken by IBM. The first being the processing and approval of mining plans and schemes of mining for all the mines in the country and second one being the implementation of rules for the protection of environment . IBM accepted this challenge and has been successful in promoting the awareness about protection of environment in the mines through the " Mines Environment & Conservation Week". In a nutshell , the IBM has been able to promote awareness amongst all sections of the mining industry, necessity and advantages of systematic mining and conservation of minerals and protection of environment.. The results of its ore dressing investigations have formed the basis of new commercial beneficiation plants and thus enlarged the mineral resource base. The IBM's clientele seeking technical consultancy covers a wide spectrum of small and large mines and many public sector organisations. IBM has been able to provide useful information to the industry through its publications and has been recognised as the Mines and Minerals Data Bank of the country.
The functions of the IBM include: To promote systematic and scientific development of mineral resources of the country (both onshore and offshore).To approve mining plans, schemes and mine closure plans having regard to conservation of minerals and protection of environment.To collect, collate and maintain database on exploration, prospecting, mines and minerals and to bring out publications / bulletins highlighting the problems and prospects of mining industry.To play a pro-active role in minimising adverse impact of mining on environment by undertaking environmental assessment studies on regional basis.To conduct suo moto techno-economic field studies in mining , geology, mineral processing and environmental aspects including analysis of ore and minerals and to promote R & D activities in these areas.To provide technical consultancy services on promotional basis within the country and abroad in the field of mining , geology, mineral processing and environment.To provide training to the scientific, technical and other cadres of the department and persons from the mining industry and other agencies for human resource development.To advise the Government on matters in regard to the mineral industry , relating to environment protection and pollution control, export and import policies, trade, mineral legislation, fiscal incentives and related matters.To promote awareness about conservation , systematic and scientific development of mineral deposits and protection of environment including restoration and rehabilitation of mined out areas through exhibitions and audiovisual media.To promote and monitor community development activities in the mining areas.To undertake any such other activity as may become necessary in the light of the developments in the field of geology, mining, mineral beneficiation and environment.
The GSI is the principal agency responsible for the assessment of geological and regional mineral resources of the country.
.GSI was established in 1851 and is one of India’s oldest investigative agencies in the field of earth sciences. Its areas of operation encompass scientific surveys and research, for locating mineral resources. GSI operates through six regional offices and four specialized wings - marine, coal geophysics, airborne surveys and training.The GSI has to its credit geological mapping, covering an area of approximately 3.146 million sq.km, or 94 percent of the area of India. The maps are on a 1:63,360/ 1:50,000 scale, the data having been synthesized to produce 1:2,000,000 scale geological maps of India, which have been correlated with the global set up as per international standards. The GSI is also actively involved in the research and development of mapping and exploration techniques. It has set up a chain of modern petrological paleontological, chemical, mineralogical, geochronological, geotechnical and geophysical laboratories in its different operational bases, and offers its facilities and services on payment.