Lok Sabha Question No. 952 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Domestic Production of Minerals
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed, Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 952

ANSWERED ON 08.02.2023

## DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

952. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED: SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of minerals in which India has achieved 100% self-sufficiency by being fully reliant upon domestic production and not on imports;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  any  target  year  for  achieving  selfreliance in both metallic and non-metallic minerals in the near future; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a): On the basis of production of mineralsunder the ambit of Mineral Conservation and  Development  Rules(MCDR)  2017  and  their  respective  apparent  consumption, India is 100 per cent self-sufficient in iron ore and some other minerals. The details of MCDR minerals having high degree of self-sufficiency during 2021-22 is given at Annexure.
- (b)  &  (c):  Self-reliance  in  minerals  is  dependent  on  factors  such  as  resource endowment, exploration, production and demand from user sector(s). The Government  has  taken  steps  to  promote  exploration  activity  and  increase  the number of geological reports handed over to States for auctioning of mineral blocks. Since 2015-16, 483 number of auctionable reports have been handed over to States so far (including 298 since 2021-22), and 235 number of mineral blocks have been successfully auctioned by the States so far (including 127 since 2021-22). Besides, amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 in 2015 and in 2021 has been aimed at increasing the production of minerals and time bound operationalization of mines, maintaining continuity in mining operations even after  change  of  lessee  and  increasing  the  pace  of  exploration  and  auctioning  of mineral resources. The above measures are intended to increase the degree of selfsufficiency in minerals.

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## Annexure

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  of  LS  USQ  No.  952  answered  on 08.02.2023 regarding 'DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF MINERALS'

## Details of MCDR minerals having high degree of self-sufficiency during2021-22

| Commodity    | Demand/Apparent Consumption* ('000 tonnes)   | Supply/Domestic Production ('000 tonnes)   |   Degree of self- sufficiency (%) |
|--------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Bauxite      | 25,125                                       | 22,494                                     |                                90 |
| Chromite     | 4,029                                        | 3,786                                      |                                94 |
| Iron Ore     | 2,34,163                                     | 2,53,974                                   |                               100 |
| Kyanite      | 9                                            | 9                                          |                               100 |
| Limestone    | 4,08,182                                     | 3,92,760                                   |                                96 |
| Sillimanite  | 1                                            | 3                                          |                               100 |
| Vermiculite  | 3                                            | 3                                          |                               100 |
| Wollastonite | 127                                          | 108                                        |                                85 |

Source: MCDR Returns for production data and DGCI&S for export & import data

Note: Even in cases where almost entire domestic demand is satisfied by domestic supplies, some quantities of certain special quality/types of minerals and metals are imported to meet the requirement in certain specific end-uses.

*: Apparent Consumption = Production + Import - Export