Largest Producer of Bauxite in India – Orissa

India has abundant resources of bauxite, with estimated reserves of around 830 million tonnes. Among the major bauxite producing states, Orissa is the largest producer of bauxite in India, contributing approximately 50% to the country's total bauxite production. Orissa has established itself as the largest producer of bauxite in India owing to its rich bauxite reserves of over 325,269 thousand tonnes. 

• About 50% of the country's total bauxite demand is met through mining activities centered in Orissa. The state has been playing a pivotal role in transforming India into a dominant global player in aluminium manufacturing. 
• A wide bauxite belt extending up to 300 km long and 40 - 100 km wide, with around 325,269 thousand tonnes of bauxite reserves concentrated mainly across the Kalahandi and Koraput districts, contains Orissa's mineral wealth. The geology of these regions, consisting of laterite-capped plutonic rocks formed during the Precambrian era, is highly favorable for bauxite deposition. 
• Some of the key bauxite mines and deposits in the state are located in Kathikal, Bapimali Hills, Pottangi, Manjimali, Passenmali, Chandragiri, Kunnumali and Kodingandi areas of Kalahandi and Koraput districts. 
• Decades of mining activities have made Orissa a dominant supplier of the chief aluminium ore to the industries across the country. 
• Over the years, extensive exploration surveys by the state directorate of mines have identified multiple mining hotspots such as Baphlimali, Gandhamardan, and other blocks.

Development of various mines since the 1970s through state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation and private players like Utkal Alumina, Aditya Aluminium, and National Aluminium Company has enhanced production capacity. The Khondalite and Laraguda open-cast mines extract 5-6 million tonnes of bauxite annually through surface miners and excavators. Semi-mechanized methods involving drilling and blasting aid mining from 300-700m deep open-pit reserves. Being the nerve center of India's aluminum sector, Orissa also hosts substantial downstream industries. Major aluminum smelters, including NALCO's 1 MTPA refinery at Damanjodi, have come up near mining belts, promoting ease of transportation and access. This makes the state a crucial participant in India's ongoing drive towards self-reliance and manufacturing edge in strategic metals. Sustained output from its plentiful deposits continues to strengthen Orissa's prominence as the largest bauxite hub nationally.

Download Free Quiz on Largest Bauxite Producing States in India

Also read – Uses of Bauxite

Top 10 Largest Bauxite Producing States in India

India is a significant global player in the production of bauxite, a crucial raw material for aluminum production. With nearly 25 million metric tonnes of bauxite production, India is the sixth largest producer of bauxite in the world. The country's diverse geography harbors vast reserves of this ore, contributing substantially to the world's bauxite supply. Among the various states, certain regions stand out as major contributors to India's bauxite production. The following are the top 10 bauxite production states in India –

Rank	State	Annual Production (in '000 tonnes)	Description
1	Odisha	15,500	Odisha has massive bauxite reserves of over 325,269 thousand tonnes concentrated majorly in Kalahandi and Koraput districts. It contributes approximately 50% of India's total bauxite output through large opencast mines operated by Odisha Mining Corporation and private players.
2	Jharkhand	2,700	Jharkhand possesses around 1.08 billion tonnes of bauxite reserves spread across Singhbhum, Kolhan and Santhal Pargana regions. It meets around 5% of country's demand through mines at Kodilcha village in West Singhbhum district.
3	Gujarat	1,500	Gujarat has around 62 million tonnes of bauxite reserves located primarily in Panchmahal, Dahod and Vadodara districts. Companies such as Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation operate large mines here.
4	Chhattisgarh	1,300	Chhattisgarh has around 600 million tonnes of bauxite reserves distributed across Durg, Raipur, Mahasamund and Bilaspur districts. Both government-owned and private sector companies mine chalky and trihydrate variants of bauxite.
5	Maharashtra	1,100	Maharashtra houses reserves of around 280 million tonnes mainly concentrated in Kolhapur, Sangli and Pune districts. Ghogari and Aamgaon mines run by Maharashtra Mineral Development Corporation are key producers.
6	Madhya Pradesh	1,000	Madhya Pradesh has an estimated 380 million tonnes of bauxite reserves located in Betul, Chhindwara and Katni districts. Smaller production units of MP State Mining Corporation operate here.
7	Goa	950	Goa has around 260 million tonnes reserves found across Panaji, Mapusa and Bicholim. Mining leases held by Goa Mining People's Cooperative Federation contribute significantly.
8	Karnataka	900	Karnataka has reserves of 360 million tonnes concentrated near Bababudangiris and Chitradurga. Bunder, Hallikere and Kadaganchi produce for domestic aluminium players.
9	Tamil Nadu	850	Tamil Nadu possesses around 480 million tonnes reserves spread across Salem, Dharmapuri and Vellore. Mines run by TAMIN and private groups meet local demand.
10	Uttar Pradesh	500	Uttar Pradesh has estimated reserves of around 200 million tonnes in Sonbhadra and Mirzapur districts. Small scale independent mining takes place here.

Also read – Bauxite – The Primary Ore of Aluminium

India possesses significant reserves of bauxite, with nearly 830 million tonnes of bauxite reserves as of now, ranking 7th globally in terms of reserve base. As per the latest survey by the Indian Bureau of Mines, Odisha alone contains nearly 325,269 thousand tonnes of bauxite, which represents a mammoth 39% of India's total reserves, the highest among all states. The states of Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also hold sizeable reserves of over 100 million tonnes each.

While a bulk of the reserves are located in the eastern states, especially Odisha, substantial deposits also exist in several central and western parts of the country. For instance, Jharkhand's bauxite-rich belt spreads across its mineral-rich districts of Singhbhum, Kolhan and Santhal Pargana. Similarly, Maharashtra's reserves are concentrated primarily in the western part around Kolhapur, Sangli, and Satara districts. The north-eastern states of Assam and Meghalaya also have considerable untapped bauxite reserves as per geological surveys. Bauxite mining is thus a major economic activity in these top producing states, supporting aluminium and allied industries.

Systematic regional mapping efforts by agencies continue to augment the preliminary assessment of reserves across the country. With well-defined deposits assured for many decades, India's bauxite reserve status fundamentally strengthens its leading global position as a producer and exporter of aluminium. While open-cast mining currently dominates extraction, underground mining will gain prominence to leverage deeper reserves. Additionally, progressive urbanization and infrastructure growth will further boost demand, incentivizing maximum reserve utilization sustainably over the long-term.

Know about Bauxite Certified Reference Material in the linked article. 

Also read –

Did you find this article on the “Largest Producer of Bauxite in India” to be interesting, informative and useful? Download the Testbook App for free now to get the latest government exam announcements and access to industry-level learning resources, expert coaching, quizzes, mock tests and study materials to ace your preparation for competitive exams.