TL;DR: India’s mineral production has seen consistent growth over the past six years, led by strong performance in iron ore, bauxite, and limestone. The metallic minerals segment has driven much of the value increase, while non-metallic minerals have shown steady, demand-based expansion.

Context

Mineral production is a key driver of industrial growth and energy transition worldwide. As countries compete for critical resources to support manufacturing and clean technologies, reliable and sustainable mineral supply chains have become strategically important. Minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, and limestone form the foundation of global industries, while others like lithium and rare earth elements are shaping the future of green energy and electronics. Against this backdrop, India’s mineral sector plays an increasingly vital role, both as a producer and consumer. Governed by the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017, the country’s framework for monitoring and managing major minerals offers insight into how resource-rich economies are balancing industrial demand with long-term sustainability.

Who compiles this data?

The Ministry of Mines serves as the primary authority, publishing figures through its departments and reports. The Economic Survey of India also presents consolidated data on mineral output as part of its annual review of the sector. Earlier, detailed statistics were made available in the Indian Minerals Yearbook published by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), and relevant figures have also been shared through parliamentary responses and other official releases. 

Where can I download clean & structured data from the Economic Survey?

Clean, structured, and ready-to-use detailed datasets from the Economic Survey are available to download from the collection on Dataful. Datasets are also available on mineral production, such as those through mines, and of different types of coal and lignite.

Key Insights

• The metallic sector experienced a massive 75% surge in value between 2020-21 and 2021-22. After a brief dip the following year, it climbed back up to reach its highest-ever value of Rs. 134,874.45 crore by 2024-25.

• While the metallic sector had big ups and downs, non-metallic minerals grew more slowly and steadily. This sector increased by nearly 44% over the six-year period, starting at Rs. 9,503.9 crore in 2019-20 and reaching over Rs. 13,000 crore by 2024-25.

• Iron Ore serves as the primary driver of the metallic sector’s production value. Its production value more than doubled over the six-year period, significantly influencing the overall growth of the mining industry.

• While physical production volume remained relatively stable, the total value of Gold increased significantly. This highlights the impact of global market pricing on the economic contribution of precious metal mining. The same is the case with Silver, considering its essential role in global electronics and renewable energy infrastructure.

• India is the fifth-largest global producer of Bauxite. India’s output of Bauxite production has risen by around 13% during the period

• Production of manganese, zinc, and chromite has risen steadily, reflecting growing demand from the steel and manufacturing industries. While this indicates a stronger domestic supply, India still relies on imports for certain high-grade or processed minerals.

• Meanwhile, in the non-metallic sector, Limestone, which has a sustained demand from the domestic construction and cement industries, maintains the most consistent growth trajectory.

• Phosphorite has emerged as a high-growth strategic mineral, with its value nearly tripling over the last six years. It is a key raw material for the agricultural fertiliser industry.

Why does it matter?

Minerals are central to India’s industrial growth, energy transition, and infrastructure development. New reforms have been introduced by the government, such as auction-based mining allocation, the National Mineral Exploration Policy, and amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) to boost production and private participation. To further strengthen the sector, India needs to expand exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals, modernise data and mapping systems, and develop domestic processing and value-addition capacity. Improving logistics and ensuring environmental and social sustainability will also be key to maintaining balanced, long-term growth.

Key Numbers

• Metallic Minerals – ₹1.34 lakh crore (2024–25, ↑ highest in 6 yrs)

• Non-metallic minerals – ₹13.3 thousand crore (↑ 44% since 2019–20)

• Iron Ore + Bauxite + Limestone → major share

• Phosphorite ×3 ↑ (value, fertiliser use)

• 5^th globally in Bauxite output