Natural resources of India

The total cultivable area in India was reported as 155,369,076 hectares[1] (52.3% of its total land area)[2] as of 2020, and is shrinking due to over-farming, increased livestock grazing, deforestation, urban growth, and severe weather events.[3][4] India has a total water surface area of 314,070 km2.[5]

India's major mineral resources include coal (4th largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese ore (7th largest reserve in the world as in 2013), lithium ore (6th largest reserve in the world as in 2023),[6] mica, bauxite (5th largest reserve in the world as in 2013),[7] chromite, natural gas, diamonds, limestone and thorium. India's oil reserves, found in Bombay High off the coast of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and in eastern Assam meet 25% of the country's demand.[8][9]

A national level agency National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) was established in 1983 for integrated natural resources management in the country. It is supported by the Planning Commission (India) and the Department of Space.[10]

  1. ^ "The World Bank". Arable land Hectares India India) graph. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  2. ^ "The World Bank". Arable land (% of land India) graph. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Aljazeera". 'Our Land is no use Anymore': India's Struggle to Save its Farms. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  4. ^ "World Health Organization (WHO)". Climate Change: land Degradation and Desertification. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  5. ^ "World Atlas". Countries by Area. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Manganese Ore India plans to up production, invest Rs 1,200 cr in phases". The Indian Express. Nagpur, India. 8 January 2013.
  7. ^ "UPDATE 2-India's top court keeps bauxite mining ban, eases some iron ore curbs". Reuters. 18 April 2013.
  8. ^ Datt, Mihir Bhojani & Vivek Sundharam, K.P.M. "7". Indian Economy. pp. 90, 97, 98, 100.
  9. ^ "CIA - The World Factbook - India". CIA. 20 September 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
  10. ^ "About NNRMS". NNRMS, Department of Space. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2013.