Lok Sabha Question No. 562 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Production and Growth Rate of Minerals
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Praveen Patel, Shri Balabhadra Majhi, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan, Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram, Shri Khagen Murmu, Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Mahesh Kashyap

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 562

ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## PRODUCTION AND GROWTH RATE OF MINERALS

562.  SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:

SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI MAHESH KASHYAP:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details on the production rate of Iron ore, non-ferrous metals, manganese and bauxite;
- (b)  whether  there  is  any  increase  in  growth  rate  of  other  key  minerals  in  the  country including Chhattisgarh and Raoghat area of Kanker district, if so, the details thereof; and (c) the details of the policies and measures the Government has undertaken or planned to boost sustainable mineral production and attract investments in the mining sector to support Atmanirbhar Bharat goals?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) & (b): There has been an increase in the production of key minerals and non-ferrous metals in the country. The details of the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over last five years are given below:

(Production quantity in Kilo Ton)

| Mineral       | 2019-20   | 2024-25 (P)   |   CAGR (%) |
|---------------|-----------|---------------|------------|
| Iron Ore      | 244,083   | 289,395       |        3.5 |
| Manganese Ore | 2,910     | 3,802         |        5.5 |
| Bauxite       | 21,825    | 24,705        |        3   |

| Limestone         | 359,464   | 449,581   | 5   |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----|
| Lead & Zinc ore   | 14,479    | 16,669    | 3   |
| Graphite          | 35        | 85        | 20  |
| Non-Ferrous Metal |           |           |     |
| Aluminium         | 3,635     | 4,199     | 3   |
| Copper            | 408       | 573       | 7   |
| Lead              | 132       | 225       | 11  |
| Zinc              | 516       | 827       | 10  |

(P): Data is provisional

The production of key minerals has also increased in Chhattisgarh, including in Kanker district. The details of CAGR over last five years are given below:

(Production quantity in Kilo Ton)

| State of Chhattisgarh                             | Mineral   | 2019- 20   | 2024- 25(P)   |   CAGR (%) |
|---------------------------------------------------|-----------|------------|---------------|------------|
|                                                   | Iron Ore  | 34,728     | 44,320        |        5   |
|                                                   | Limestone | 42,699     | 48,938        |        2.8 |
| Kanker district of the State of Chhattisgarh Iron | Ore       | 2,943      | 5,134         |       11.8 |

(P): Data is provisional

(c): Ministry of Mines has taken various steps for increasing mineral production and to make 'Atmanirbhar Bharat in the mining sector'. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957) was amended with effect from 28.03.2021 with the objective of inter-alia increasing mineral production and time bound operationalization of mines, increasing employment and investment in the mining sector; increasing the pace of exploration and auction of mineral resources. Some of the key amendments include removing end-use restrictions for auction of mines, allowing captive mines  to  sell  up  to  50%  of  minerals  produced  during  the  year  after  meeting  the requirement of linked plant and removing restrictions on transfer of mineral concessions.

The MMDR Act, 1957 was further amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 with effect from 17.08.2023 with the objective of increasing exploration and production of critical  and  deep-seated  minerals  which  are  essential  for  the  advancement  of  many sectors, including high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport and defence.

Through  the  said  amendment,  the  Central  Government  has  been  empowered  to exclusively auction mining lease and composite licence for 24 critical minerals listed in the new Part-D of the First Schedule to the said Act. In order to boost exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals, a new mineral concession namely, exploration licence has been  introduced  for  29  critical  and  deep-seated  minerals.  Critical  and  deep-seated minerals such as Cobalt, Lithium, Nickel, Gold, Silver, Copper are difficult to explore and mine as compared to surfacial or bulk minerals. The exploration licence granted through auction shall permit the licencee to undertake reconnaissance and prospecting operations for critical and deep-seated minerals mentioned in the newly inserted Seventh Schedule to the MMDR Act.

Further, the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 [OAMDR Act, 2002] was amended through the OAMDR Amendment Act, 2023 with an objective to introduce the auction as the method of allocation of operating rights in the offshore areas to enable early allocation of operating rights through a transparent and non-discretionary process.

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