Parliament Question: Baryte Reserves in the Country

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2942 ANSWERED ON 05.08.2026 BARYTE RESERVES IN THE COUNTRY 2942. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY: Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has conducted any study/survey regarding Baryte reserves in country; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the list of baryte mines proposed, sanctioned and presently functional across the country, State/UT-wise particularly in Andhra Pradesh; (c) the details of the total funds allocated and released for baryte mine exploration projects across the country during the last five years, year-wise; (d) the details of the total amount of baryte exported during the last five years, year- wise; (e) the details regarding the total amount of Baryte reserves available at present across the country, State-wise; (f) whether the Government is aware of the rapid depletion in baryte reserves during the last ten years and if so, the details thereof, year-wise; and (g) the details of the total amount of remaining baryte reserves in the country at present State/UT-wise, along with the steps undertaken to reduce/slow down the rapid depletion in baryte reserves in the country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY) (a) and (b): The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has taken up 09 exploration projects for Baryte from field season 2022-23 to 2025-26 in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) has approved funding of 03 mineral exploration projects on Baryte and associated minerals in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. However, no resources for Baryte have been augmented from these projects so far. Further, there are 94 mining leases for Baryte in the country, including Andhra Pradesh and the State-wise details are as follows: State No. of Leases Andhra Pradesh 79 Haryana 2 Karnataka 2 Rajasthan 4 Telangana 7(c): The total amount of funds allocated and released by GSI and sanctioned by NMEDT during the last five years on mineral exploration projects in the country, including Baryte, are as follows: (fig. in ₹crores) Financial Year 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Funds Allocated 54.60 63.00 66.15 66.90 70.00 Funds Released 54.47 62.93 66.06 66.73 69.93 (d): The details of the Baryte exported during the last five years as follows: (Quantity in Tonnes) 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 (Provisional) 18,74,837 24,45,691 23,10,272 18,25,553 20,83,692 (e) to (g): India stands at fourth position in the world in terms of Baryte reserves. The State-wise details of Baryte reserves available at present across the country are as follows: Sl. No. State Reserves (in tonnes) 1 Andhra Pradesh 46,38,861 2 Rajasthan 1,25,731 3 Telangana 48,81,809 Total 96,46,401 *****