**Executive Summary**
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has established resources of Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) in coastal areas across several Indian states, with total heavy mineral resources estimated at 1,309.42 million tonnes by December 2025. Union Budget 2026 announced initiatives to establish dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to promote mining and processing. The extraction of monazite, a key Rare Earth bearing mineral, is a complex and lengthy process, with tentative timelines for operationalization extending up to 4-5 years.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) Resources:**
* The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has identified BSM resources in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.
* Total economic heavy mineral resources, including BSM and inland placers, are estimated at 1,309.42 million tonnes (Mt) as of December 2025.
* State-wise details of Total Heavy Mineral (THM) Resource as of December 2025 are provided, with figures for deposits, Ilmenite, Rutile, Leucoxene, Monazite, Zircon, Garnet, and Sillimanite.
* Odisha leads in deposits (13) and has significant resources of Garnet and Sillimanite.
* Andhra Pradesh (25 deposits) and Tamil Nadu (54 deposits) also show substantial mineral reserves.
* Kerala has the highest recorded resource of Sillimanite (242.88 Mt).
* Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Jharkhand also contribute to the national mineral resources.
* **Rare Earth Corridors Initiative:**
* Union Budget 2026 announced the establishment of dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
* These corridors aim to promote mining, processing, research, and manufacturing of rare earths.
* The initiative intends to develop a resilient and globally competitive rare earths ecosystem in India.
* Focus areas include enhancing production of NdPr and Samarium oxides, fostering domestic demand for RE magnets, and facilitating industries in the value chain of Titanium and Zirconium.
* The corridors aim to position India as a national hub for Rare Earths, titanium, and critical minerals, supporting industrial growth and national strategic requirements.
* **Monazite Extraction and Exploration:**
* Monazite is identified as the primary Rare Earth bearing mineral in India, found alongside six other beach sand heavy minerals.
* Extraction of monazite from coastal beaches is described as long, complex, and expensive due to its radioactive source.
* Mining is conducted as per mining plans approved by AMD, adhering to statutory body limits.
* Factors such as dense coastal habitation, regulatory compliance timelines, and sustainability influence the extraction process.
* The tentative timeline for extracting rare earth minerals from a deposit can extend to 4-5 years, from prospective lessee nomination to operationalization.
* AMD is currently conducting exploration for additional monazite resources in beach sand deposits in Andhra Pradesh (Dr. Ambedkar Konaseema district), Odisha (Puri district), and Tamil Nadu (Thoothukudi district).
* Exploration is also underway to augment REE resources in hard rock terrains in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
* **Information Dissemination:**
* This information was provided by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
**Impact Analysis**
**Coastal States (Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu)**
* **Impact:** These states are designated for the establishment of Rare Earth Corridors, leading to increased focus on mining, processing, research, and manufacturing of rare earths and related minerals. This is expected to foster industrial growth and economic development.
* **Action Required:** To facilitate the establishment and operationalization of Rare Earth Corridors, including supporting mining, processing, and related industries.
**Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)**
* **Impact:** AMD is actively involved in exploring and identifying additional resources of monazite and other Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in both coastal beach sands and hard rock terrains. They are responsible for approving mining plans for monazite extraction.
* **Action Required:** Continue exploration activities to identify and assess REE resources, and provide expertise in approving mining plans for monazite extraction.
**The Mining Industry (General)**
* **Impact:** The development of Rare Earth Corridors and the focus on monazite extraction will likely impact the mining sector through increased demand for exploration, extraction technologies, and processing capabilities for rare earth minerals. The complex and lengthy extraction process for monazite will require significant investment and adherence to regulations.
* **Action Required:** Adapt to potential increased activity in rare earth mineral mining, invest in relevant technologies, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements and environmental regulations.
**Regulatory and Statutory Bodies**
* **Impact:** These bodies will be involved in granting statutory clearances, approving mining leases, and overseeing compliance during the exploration and extraction phases of rare earth minerals. The timeline for these processes can significantly influence project schedules.
* **Action Required:** Streamline and expedite the process of granting statutory clearances and executing mining lease deeds to facilitate the timely operationalization of deposits. Ensure rigorous oversight of mining and extraction activities.
**Union Budget 2026 and Government Policy Makers**
* **Impact:** The Union Budget 2026 has initiated a significant policy shift towards developing a robust rare earths ecosystem in India. This will shape future investment and strategic planning in the mineral sector.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support and monitor the implementation of the Rare Earth Corridors initiative, ensuring effective coordination between various government departments and stakeholders.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Atomic Energy: The primary government body involved in nuclear and atomic energy matters, which includes the Directorate responsible for this policy.
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD): A constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy responsible for establishing resources of Beach Sand Minerals.
Rare Earth Corridors: Dedicated corridors announced in the Union Budget 2026 to support mineral-rich coastal states in mining, processing, research, and manufacturing of rare earths.
Union Budget 2026: The budget that announced the establishment of dedicated Rare Earth Corridors.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State who provided the information in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Department of Atomic Energy
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: MINERALS IN
COASTAL BEACHES
Posted On: 11 MAR 2026 4:52PM by PIB Delhi
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department
of Atomic Energy (DAE), has established resources of Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) in the red (teri)
and coastal beach sands in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra,
Gujarat, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
The total resources of economic heavy minerals including BSM and inland placers in the country as on
December, 2025 are 1,309.42 million tonne (Mt) (Rounded off to 1,309Mt). The State-wise details of
Total Heavy Mineral (THM) Resource (million tonnes) as on December, 2025 is as under:
State Deposits Ilmenite Rutile Leucoxene Monazite Zircon Garnet Sillimanite T
Odisha 13 172.25 7.19 0.94 3.22 6.00 71.60 90.17 35
Andhra 25 178.75 11.46 3.64 4.05 12.75 67.30 81.85 35
Pradesh
Tamil 54 191.29 8.35 6.56 2.55 10.75 71.15 39.99 33
Nadu
Kerala 35 144.02 8.74 8.23 1.84 7.96 7.38 64.72 242.88
Maharashtra 5 5.50 0.01 0.06 0.004 0.03 0.02 0.01 5.64
Gujarat 2 11.64 0.03 0.33 0.07 0.06 0.38 0.04 12.53
West Bengal 1 2.05 0.19 - 1.20 0.38 - 1.63 5.45
Jharkhand 1 0.73 0.01 - 0.21 0.08 - 0.08 1.12
Total 136 706.24 35.98 19.75 13.15 38.00 217.83 278.48 1,309.42The Union Budget 2026 made an announcement to support mineral-rich coastal states of Odisha,
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to establish dedicated Rare Earth corridors to promote
mining, processing, research and manufacturing. These Rare Earth Corridors are intended for
developing a resilient and globally competitive rare earths ecosystem in India by enhancing
production of the NdPr and Samarium oxides and fostering the domestic demand for production of
RE magnets and at the same time facilitating establishment of industries in the value chain of
Titanium and Zirconium etc. These dedicated RE corridors envisage positioning India as a national
hub for Rare Earths, titanium and critical minerals value addition—serving both industrial growth and
national strategic requirements.
Monazite is the known Rare Earth bearing mineral found in India. It is found in association with six
other beach sand heavy minerals. On account of the radioactive source, extraction of Monazite from
coastal beaches is long, complex and expensive. Mining of monazite is carried out as per the mining
plan approved by AMD which in turn depends upon the limits prescribed by various statutory bodies.
Factors such as dense inhabitation in coastal stretches, timeline of regulatory compliances and
sustainability leads an involved process of monazite from coastal beaches. The tentative timeline
required for extraction of rare earth minerals from a particular deposit in coastal beaches can extended
to 4-5 years from the date of nomination of Prospective lessee to obtaining of statutory clearances,
execution of mining lease deed and finally operationalization of the deposit. AMD is presently
carrying out exploration to identify additional resources of monazite (a mineral of REE and thorium)
in the beach sand deposits along coastal tracts in parts of Dr. Ambedkar Konaseema district in Andhra
Pradesh; Puri district in Odisha and Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu. Additionally, AMD is also
carrying out exploration to augment REE resources in hard rock terrains in parts of Jodhpur, Balotra
and Udaipur districts in Rajasthan; Chhota Udepur district in Gujarat; Salem district in Tamil Nadu;
and Warangal and Suryapet districts in Telangana.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science &
Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in
the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
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NKR/AK
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