Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Mines addressed a Lok Sabha question regarding iron ore reserves and demand in India. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducts mineral surveys, and the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) publishes mineral inventories. Iron ore production is currently sufficient to meet domestic steel industry demand, which is expected to reach 437 MT by 2030-31.
Key Points / Main Content:
Iron Ore Demand and Reserves:
* The National Steel Policy 2017 estimates steel demand will reach 230 MT by 2030-31, requiring 437 MT of iron ore.
* GSI is the nodal agency for mineral exploration, including iron ore, and has undertaken 31 mineral exploration projects from Field Season (FS) 2020-21 to FS 2024-25.
* IBM publishes the National Mineral Inventory based on information from GSI, State Governments, and other stakeholders.
* State-wise reserves and resources of iron ore (Haematite and Magnetite) as of 01.04.2020 are detailed in Annexure I.
Iron Ore Production:
* State-wise iron ore production for the current financial year 2025-26 (up to June 2025) is provided in Annexure II.
* The country's iron ore production is sufficient to meet the current domestic steel industry demand.
* Production, export, import, and closing stock data for FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25 are detailed in Annexure III.
Impact Analysis:
Geological Survey of India (GSI):
* Impact: Continues to be the nodal agency for mineral exploration and is responsible for formulating exploration programs, including iron ore.
* Action Required: Continue exploration activities for iron ore, adhering to United Nations Framework Classification guidelines.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM):
* Impact: Responsible for publishing the National Mineral Inventory based on data received from various sources.
* Action Required: Update and publish the National Mineral Inventory regularly, incorporating data from GSI, State Governments, and other stakeholders.
Domestic Steel Industry:
* Impact: Assured of sufficient iron ore supply to meet current demand. Future demand is projected to increase significantly by 2030-31.
* Action Required: Monitor iron ore availability and plan for increased demand in line with the National Steel Policy 2017.
State Governments:
* Impact: Involved in providing data for the National Mineral Inventory and play a role in iron ore extraction and production.
* Action Required: Provide accurate and timely data on iron ore reserves, resources, and production to IBM.
Ministry of Mines:
* Impact: Oversees the exploration, assessment, and production of iron ore to meet domestic demand and policy objectives.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring iron ore availability, supporting exploration efforts, and ensuring alignment with the National Steel Policy.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: Member of Parliament who asked the question about iron ore reserves.
SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY: Minister of Coal and Mines who provided the answer to the question.
National Steel Policy 2017: A policy document that estimates the annual steel demand and iron ore requirement.
Geological Survey of India (GSI): The nodal agency for mineral survey and exploration in India.
Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB): Organisation through which GSI formulates exploration programmes.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM): Publishes the National Mineral Inventory of mineral resources in the country.
Odisha: State with the largest reserves and production of iron ore in India.
Chhattisgarh: State with significant iron ore reserves and production in India.
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 countryon 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 2025-
26 (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-IAnnexure-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-IIAnnexure-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-IIIAnnexure-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) 289.40 6.41 30.01 85.62
Source: Indian Bureau of Mines
(P): Data is provisional