Lok Sabha Question No. 2915 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Iron Ore Reserves
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †2915

ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## IRON ORE RESERVES

†2915. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  made  any  estimate  of  the  total  iron  ore requirement in the country in view of the domestic industry's demand; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Geological Survey of India has conducted any survey about the total iron ore reserves in the country; (d) if so, the details thereof; (e)  the  State-wise  details  of  the  iron ore  being  extracted  and  produced in the country during the current year; (f) whether the current availability of iron ore in the country is sufficient to meet domestic
- demand; and
- (g) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): As per the National Steel Policy 2017, the annual steel demand is estimated to reach 230 million ton (mt) by 2030-31. Accordingly, iron ore requirement in 2030-31 is estimated at 437 mt in the Policy.

(c) & (d): Mineral assessment/ discovery is a continuous process and for mineral survey in  the  country,  Geological  Survey  of  India  (GSI)  is  the  nodal  agency  to  formulate exploration programmes of various agencies through Central Geological Programming Board  (CGPB).  GSI  has  taken  up  exploration  of  different  mineral  commodities  and prioritized its exploration activities following the guidelines of United Nations Framework Classification  with  an  aim  to  augment  resources  for  various  mineral  commodities including iron ore in different parts of the country. During the last 5 years (Field Season (FS) 2020-21 to FS 2024-25) GSI has taken up 31 mineral exploration projects on iron ore in various parts of the country. As far as reserves are concerned, Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) publishes the National Mineral Inventory of mineral resources in the country on the basis of information received from GSI, State Governments, exploration agencies and  other  stakeholders.  As  per  National  Mineral  Inventory,  State-wise  reserves/ resources of iron ore (Haematite & Magnetite) is given in Table 1 and Table 2 placed at Annexure-I.

(e): State-wise production of iron ore in the country during the current financial year 202526 (up to June 2025) is given at Annexure-II.

(f) & (g): Iron ore is the most important raw material for steel industry. The production of iron ore is sufficient to meet the current demand/ consumption by domestic steel industry. Production, export, import and closing stock of iron ore in the country during the years FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25 is at Annexure-III.

*****

Annexure-I  referred  to  in  reply  to  parts  (c)  &  (d)  of  LS  USQ  2915  answered  on 06.08.2025 regarding 'Iron Ore Reserves'.

Table 1: State-wise Reserves/ resources of Iron ore (Haematite) as on 01.04.2020

(in kilo ton)

| State            | Reserves   | Remaining Resources   | Total Resources   |
|------------------|------------|-----------------------|-------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh   | 44,744     | 3,50,872              | 3,95,616          |
| Assam            | -          | 30,890                | 30,890            |
| Bihar            | -          | 55                    | 55                |
| Chhattisgarh     | 15,93,732  | 29,98,379             | 45,92,111         |
| Goa              | 1,17,235   | 10,80,322             | 11,97,557         |
| Jharkhand        | 5,34,677   | 41,75,469             | 47,10,146         |
| Karnataka        | 10,43,212  | 17,92,781             | 28,35,992         |
| Madhya Pradesh   | 54,129     | 3,02,870              | 3,56,999          |
| Maharashtra      | 15,241     | 2,86,304              | 3,01,544          |
| Meghalaya        | -          | 225                   | 225               |
| Odisha           | 27,98,749  | 66,10,582             | 94,09,331         |
| Rajasthan        | 7,314      | 28,166                | 35,480            |
| Telangana        | -          | 1,05,627              | 1,05,627          |
| Uttar Pradesh    | -          | 86,330                | 86,330            |
| All India: Total | 62,09,034  | 1,78,48,870           | 2,40,57,905       |

Source: Indian Bureau of Mines

Table 2: State-wise Reserves/ resources of Iron ore (Magnetite) as on 01.04.2020

(in kilo ton)

| State            | Reserves   | Remaining Resources   | Total Resources   |
|------------------|------------|-----------------------|-------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh   | -          | 14,72,383             | 14,72,383         |
| Assam            | -          | 15,380                | 15,380            |
| Bihar            | -          | 49,439                | 49,439            |
| Chhattisgarh     | 75,876     | 30,045                | 1,05,921          |
| Goa              | 4,990      | 2,61,345              | 2,66,336          |
| Jharkhand        | -          | 10,667                | 10,667            |
| Karnataka        | 318        | 78,01,853             | 78,02,171         |
| Kerala           | -          | 83,435                | 83,435            |
| Maharashtra      | 578        | 1,210                 | 1,788             |
| Meghalaya        | -          | 3,380                 | 3,380             |
| Nagaland         | -          | 5,280                 | 5,280             |
| Odisha           | -          | 242                   | 242               |
| Rajasthan        | 1,21,060   | 6,73,866              | 7,94,926          |
| Tamil Nadu       | -          | 5,28,901              | 5,28,901          |
| Telangana        | -          | 87,366                | 87,366            |
| All India: Total | 2,02,823   | 1,10,24,791           | 1,12,27,614       |

Source: Indian Bureau of Mines

Annexure-II

Annexure-II referred to in reply to part (e) of LS USQ 2915 answered on 06.08.2025 regarding 'Iron Ore Reserves'.

## State-wise Iron Ore Production

(in ton)

| State          | FY 2025-26(till June 2025)(P)   |
|----------------|---------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh | 1,643                           |
| Chhattisgarh   | 1,22,04,432                     |
| Goa            | 3,91,593                        |
| Jharkhand      | 53,59,766                       |
| Karnataka      | 1,16,11,378                     |
| Madhya Pradesh | 27,96,630                       |
| Maharashtra    | 40,40,467                       |
| Odisha         | 3,83,90,353                     |
| Rajasthan      | 3,24,247                        |
| Telangana      | 0                               |
| All India      | 7,51,20,509                     |

Source: Indian Bureau of Mines

(P): Data is provisional

Annexure-III referred to in reply  to  parts  (f)  &  (g)  of  LS  USQ  2915  answered  on 06.08.2025 regarding 'Iron Ore Reserves'.

Production, export & import and closing stock of iron ore in India during the years FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25

(in million ton)

| Year        |   Production |   Import |   Export |   Closing Stock |
|-------------|--------------|----------|----------|-----------------|
| 2022-23     |       258.31 |     1.79 |    21.17 |           97.36 |
| 2023-24     |       277.33 |     4.96 |    46.38 |           83.05 |
| 2024-25 (P) |       289.4  |     6.41 |    30.01 |           85.62 |

Source: Indian Bureau of Mines

(P): Data is provisional