Subject: GS 1
Syllabus: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
Questions
- Eastern Indian states are the most mineral-rich areas in India, but lag in socioeconomic development. Delineate geographically the minerals present in the eastern belt and the formation of minerals in this area with time. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
- Analyse the paradoxical situation of India possessing abundant natural resources yet facing economic challenges in effectively harnessing its geographic advantages. Explore the reasons behind this discrepancy and discuss potential strategies and reforms that could fully enable India to leverage its natural resources for economic growth and development. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
Model Structure
1. Eastern Indian states are the most mineral rich areas in India but lag in socioeconomic development. Delineate geographically the minerals present in eastern belt and formation of minerals in this area with time. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
Model structure
Introduction
- According to data from the Ministry of Mines, Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh contribute to more than 24.8% of the value of mineral production in India.
Main body
- Geographically, minerals present in the Eastern belt can be understood state-wise:
- Jharkhand-
- Iron ore of Noamundi.
- Uranium in Turandeh and Narwapahar.
- Coal in Jharia, Bokaro and Giridih in Damodar valley.
- Jharkhand-
- Chhattisgarh
- Iron ore locations in Dalli Rajhara, Bila Dila and Jagdalpur.
- Manganese in Durg and Bhilai.
- Limestone and Dolomite in Bilaspur and Raipur, respectively.
- Coal in Korba and Chirmiri in Hasdo valley.
- West Bengal
- Coal in Raniganj fields.
- Iron ore in Purulia.
- Odisha
- Manganese and Limestone in Kendujhar and Sundargarh, respectively.
- Iron ore in Badampahar and Mayurbhanj
- Uranium in Jharsuguda of the Garhjat hills in Odisha,
- Coal in Talcher,
- These states lag in socioeconomic development because-
- Opposition by locals who are mostly tribals.
- Growth of Naxalism, which involves violent resistance to any development efforts.
- Issues in policy making which has mostly neglected environmental issues and the traditional rights of tribals.
- Low outreach and implementation of government schemes due to difficult terrain.
- Mining and its issues, like cancer due to contamination of soil and groundwater. E.g.- uranium mining in Jharsuguda and Narwapahar.
Conclusion
- Eastern states have lagged behind in many indicators like Ease of doing business, SDG India Index, NITI Aayog health index, etc. Their development is critical in achieving SDG 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 4 (quality education) and 10 (reduced inequalities).
2. Analyse the paradoxical situation of India possessing abundant natural resources yet facing economic challenges in effectively harnessing its geographic advantages. Explore the reasons behind this discrepancy and discuss potential strategies and reforms that could fully enable India to leverage its natural resources for economic growth and development. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- India is gifted with various types of natural resources such as fertile soil, forests, minerals and water. These resources are unevenly distributed. The Indian continent covers a multitude of biotic and abiotic resources.
Main Body
Natural Resources present in India:
- Soil: In the sedimentary soil of the Northern Great Plains of the Sutlej-Ganga plains and Brahmaputra Valley, wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, jute, cotton, rapeseed, mustard, sesame, linseed, are grown in abundance.
- Natural vegetation: India also has a variety of natural vegetation since the country has a varied relief and climate.
- Forests are the main source of Firewood, Paper, Spices, Drugs, Herbs, Gums and more.
- Marine and Inland water resources: Reports indicate that India has an 8129 km long coastline.
- Reports of EIA estimates indicated that in Indian rivers, more than 400 fish species are found, and many species are economically important.
- Indian Oil reserves: India holds 4,728,790,000 barrels of proven oil reserves as of 2016, ranking 24th globally and accounting for about 0.3% of the world’s total oil reserves.
- Mineral resources in India are also large, such as iron, coal, mineral oil, manganese, bauxite, chromite, copper, tungsten, gypsum, limestone, and mica.
- Livestock Resource, India ranks number one in cattle & buffalo population in the world.
Major challenges faced by India in harnessing the resources:
- Lack of technology to explore the resources: Despite having reserves of shale gas, due to a lack of state-of-the-art technology, it remains under-explored.
- Lack of financial viability: Despite India being the pioneering state to get permission to extract the polymetallic nodules in the Indian Ocean region, India cannot utilise them due to the huge cost of the project.
- Lack of human resources: According to NSO, only 14% of youth in India go through any kind of formal or informal training.
- E.g., Most of the coal in India is mined through open-cast mining due to less skill requirement.
- Lack of key raw material: Natural resources like uranium, vanadium, electronic elements, etc.
- Eg India's dependency on APIs from China.
- Policy uncertainty: It has been seen that with the change in political regime, there is a drastic shift in policy. Also, the Supreme Court's interference has a profound impact.
- E.g. the Supreme Court imposed a ban on coal mining for a certain period. And schemes like NELP to HELP.
- Low level of research and development: India is among the lowest-spending nations in the research sector.
- Eg R&D to GDP ratio is less than 1%.
- Underperforming manufacturing sector: India's manufacturing sector is still inefficient and employs old techniques.
- E.g., the share of manufacturing to GDP is <30%, which is much lower than comparable countries like China.
- Lack of extensive geological mapping: ISRO is the sole authority to oversee the geo-mapping.
- Private participation is very low in this sector.
- Environmental clearance: Environmental Impact Assessment acts as a green hurdle to the exploration and extraction of natural resources.
- Eg protest against the Vedanta project in Central India.
Way forward:
- Natural Resource Management: The World Charter for Nature acknowledges the need to safeguard nature from increasing depletion due to human activities.
- It asserts that actions to safeguard nature must be adopted at all levels of society, from international to individual.
- Reducing the policy uncertainty: Need uniform policy for public and private parties. Bringing transparency in the auctioning process.
- Wider public participation: involving the Gram Sabha can be effective for balancing development and the environment.
- EIA compliance: Following the EIA process from the initial step can avoid the later clearance hurdles.
- Looking for alternatives: Focusing more on renewable resources like solar, biogas etc.
- E.g., steps like the International Solar Alliance.
- Improving technology: increasing more on RnD, skilling the workforce etc, will lead to an efficient system.
- E.g., involving AI tools.
- Private participation: private participation will bring funds and efficiency.
- E.g., recently, the government increased the flexibility to increase the participation of private parties.
Conclusion
- Commercial and industrial utility, aesthetic value, scientific interest, and cultural significance are all examples of sources of value. For the sake of humanity's well-being, natural resources must be exploited sustainably.
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