Mineral, Biotic & Marine Resources of India

1. Mineral Resources

Overview

• India is richly endowed with a wide variety of metallic, non-metallic, and energy minerals.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI) (est. 1851) and the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) are the primary agencies for mineral exploration and regulation.
• The Peninsular Plateau (especially the Chota Nagpur Plateau) is the "treasure house of minerals" due to its ancient crystalline rock formations.

Ferrous Minerals (Iron-bearing)

Iron Ore:

• India has some of the world's finest-quality iron ore reserves (~33 billion tonnes).
• Major Producing States: Odisha (~55%), Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Goa (very significant historically).
• Types: Magnetite (highest quality, ~72% Fe), Hematite (most abundant, ~60-70% Fe), Limonite, Siderite.
• Key Deposits: Bailadila (Chhattisgarh), Dalli-Rajhara, Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Mayurbhanj/Keonjhar (Odisha), Kudremukh (Karnataka), Bellary-Hospet (Karnataka).

Manganese:

• Used in steel-making and dry battery cells. India is among the top producers globally.
• Major areas: Odisha (Kendujhar), Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh.

Chromite:

• India is among the world's top producers.
• Concentrated in Sukinda valley (Odisha) – one of the world's largest chromite deposits.

Non-Ferrous Metallic Minerals

Copper:

• India has moderate reserves but faces a deficit. Major deposits in Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Khetri (Rajasthan – largest producing mine), Alwar (Rajasthan), Balaghat (MP), Chitradurga (Karnataka).

Bauxite (Aluminium ore):

• India has significant reserves (~3 billion tonnes). Major areas: Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat.

Mica:

• India produces about 60% of world's sheet mica (of electrical grade).
• Concentrated in the "Mica Belt" across Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Gold:

• India's reserves are limited. Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka were once one of the deepest gold mines in the world (now largely depleted). Hutti mines in Karnataka are active.

Non-Metallic Minerals

Limestone: Essential for cement industry. Abundant in MP, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh. Gypsum: Used in cement and as fertilizer raw material. Rajasthan (largest producer), Jammu & Kashmir. Diamonds: Panna (Madhya Pradesh) is the only currently active diamond mining area in India. Thorium: India has the world's largest thorium reserves (~25%), mainly in the form of monazite sands along the Kerala and Tamil Nadu coasts (Chavara, Manavalakurichi). Uranium: Found in Jaduguda (Jharkhand – only operating mine), and in Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan.

Mineral Policy

• Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021: introduced auction of mineral blocks, District Mineral Foundation (DMF), National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET).

2. Biotic Resources

• Biotic resources are derived from living organisms (flora and fauna).
• India is one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, harbouring about 7-8% of all recorded species despite covering only 2.4% of the world's land area.
• Two Global Biodiversity Hotspots in India: The Western Ghats & Sri Lanka hotspot, and the Eastern Himalayas (Himalayan hotspot).

3. Marine Resources

Fisheries

• India is the 3rd largest fish producer in the world (2nd in aquaculture).
• Marine Fisheries: West coast (especially Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat) dominates.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): India has a 200-nautical-mile EEZ covering about 2.02 million sq km, rich in fisheries and potential hydrocarbon deposits.
• Deep Sea Mining: The UN International Seabed Authority (ISA) has allocated a site in the Indian Ocean for India's deep-sea exploration (polymetallic nodules rich in manganese, copper, nickel, cobalt).

Marine Bio-Resources

• Coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass ecosystems support enormous biodiversity and provide coastline protection.
• Mangroves: India has the world's largest mangrove delta in the Sundarbans (West Bengal - shared with Bangladesh). Other important areas: Bhitarkanika (Odisha), Gulf of Kutch, Andaman & Nicobar.

4. Forest and Wildlife Resources & Conservation

Forest Cover

• India's total forest and tree cover is about 24.62% of the total geographical area (as per India State of Forest Report, FSI).
• Goal: 33% of the geographical area under forests (as per National Forest Policy, 1988).
• Categories: Dense Forest (>70% canopy), Moderately Dense (40-70%), Open Forest (10-40%), Scrub.
• States with Highest Forest Cover (% of state area): Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya.
• States with Highest Forest Cover (total area): Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh.

Forest Types

• Tropical Wet Evergreen: Western Ghats, upper Assam, Andaman & Nicobar. Dense, multi-layered, no deciduous shedding. Teak, ebony, mahogany.
• Tropical Moist Deciduous: The most widespread type in India. Shed leaves in the dry season. Teak (most valuable Indian timber), Sal, Bamboo, Shisham.
• Tropical Dry Deciduous: Less rainfall areas of Deccan and Central India. Scrubby trees.
• Montane Forests: Altitude-based variation: Temperate forests (oaks, rhododendrons), Alpine forests (birch, juniper) in the Himalayas.
• Mangrove/Tidal Forests: Coastal saltwater areas (Sundarbans). Halophytic (salt-tolerant) trees like Sundari.

Wildlife

• India harbours: ~7.4% of world's mammals, ~12.5% of birds, ~6% of reptiles, ~6.2% of amphibians.
• Iconic species: Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, One-horned Rhinoceros (Kaziranga), Snow Leopard, Black Buck, Indian Lion (Gir).

Conservation Mechanisms

Protected Area Network:

• National Parks: High-protection areas, no human activity allowed. India has 106 National Parks (as of recent counts). e.g., Jim Corbett (first, 1936, Uttarakhand), Kaziranga (Assam), Kanha (MP), Sundarbans (WB), Gir (Gujarat).
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: More flexible, local activities may be permitted. India has 567+ sanctuaries.
• Biosphere Reserves: Large multi-purpose protected areas for conserving biodiversity and demonstrating sustainable use. India has 18 Biosphere Reserves; 12 are included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
• Tiger Reserves: Under Project Tiger (launched 1973). Currently 53 tiger reserves. India has ~70% of the world's wild tiger population.
• Elephant Reserves: Under Project Elephant (launched 1992). 32 Elephant Reserves.

Key Legislation:

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended several times).
• Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
• Forest Rights Act (Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act), 2006.
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species): Regulates international trade in threatened species. IUCN Red List: Classifies species by extinction risk (Extinct, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, etc.).