Industry in India

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (GSI)

  • Geological Survey of India, the premier earth science organization of the country, is the principal provider of basic earth science information to the Government & Industry.
  • Beginning as a department engaged primarily in research for coal, GSI in the last 158 years has expanded its activities manifold.
  • Its charter of operation (revised, 21st May, 2009) laid down by the Government of India, detailing the scope of activities and responsibilities of the GSI.
  • It has Central Head Quarters at Kolkata, six regional offices at Nagpur, Kolkata, Shillong, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Jaipur besides Airborne Miner Surveys and Exploration wing, Bengaluru; Marine Wing, Kolkata; Coal Wing, Kolkata and Training Institute at Hyderabad.

INDIAN BUREAU or MINES (IBM)

  • Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) established in 1948, is a scientific & technical organisation under Ministry of Mines, with statutory and developmental responsibilities for conservation and systematic exploitation of mineral resources other than coal, petroleum and natural gas, atomic minerals and minor minerals.
  • IBM has its headquarters at Nagpur.
  • Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) performs regulatory functions, namely enforcement of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988, Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 and Environmental (Protection) Act 1986.
  • It prepares mineral maps and countrywide inventory of mineral resources of leasehold and freehold areas.
  • IBM also functions as Data Bank of mines and minerals and publishes statistical information.

PUBLIC SECTOR AND DISINVESTED COMPANIES

  • The Ministry of Mines has 4 public sector undertakings under its administrative control: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML) are operating in the field of mining and mineral processing, and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) is operating in the field of mineral exploration.
  • The BGML however, is closed since March 2001.
  • In addition the Government holds 49% equity in Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) and 29.54% equity in Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) after their disinvestment.
  • NATIONAL ALUMINIUM COMPANY LIMITED (NALCO): Largest integrated Aluminum Plant complex in India, was incorporated in 1981 with registered office at Bhubaneswar. Granted Navratna status in 2008.
  • HINDUSTAN COPPER LIMITED (HCL): Setup in It was established to take over all plants, projects, schemes and studies pertaining to exploration and exploitation of copper deposits from National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd.
  • Khetri Copper Complex (KCC) at Khetrinagar, Rajasthan, Indian Copper Complex (ICC) at Ghatsila, Jharkhand, Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) at Malanjkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Taloja Copper Project (TCP) at Taloja, Maharashtra.
  • The Government of India nationalized the only copper producing company in the private sector, Indian Copper Corporation Ltd, at Ghatsila in Jharkhand in March, 1972 and handed over its management and ownership to Hindustan Copper Limited.
  • The smelter plant at the copper complex in Rajasthan with a capacity of 31000 tonnes was dedicated to the nation in February, 1975.
  • MINERAL EXPLORATION CORPORATION LIMITED: Setup in 1972 with corporate office at Nagpur.
  • BHARAT GOLD MINES LIMITED: Setup at Kolar Gold Fields in 1972. It was engaged in mining & production of gold from its captive mines. The company was referred to BIFR who gave its verdict to wind up BGML in public interest. It was closed in 2001.
  • BHARAT ALUMINUM COMPANY LIMITED (BALCO): Setup in1965. The Government of India disinvested 51% equity in Company along with the transfer of management control in favour of Sterlite Industries (India) Limited in 2001 and consequently, the Company has ceased to be public sector undertaking.
  • HINDUSTAN ZINC LIMITED (HZL): Setup in 1966 as a public sector undertaking after the taking over of the erstwhile Metal Corporation of India Limited. Government of India disinvested its 26% equity in HZL in favour of Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures (SOVL) in 2002 along with management control. The current shareholding of SOVL in HZL is 64.92% and Government of India is 29.54%. HZL with its headquarters at Udaipur operates lead-zinc mines.
  • NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ROCK MECHANICS (NIRM): It is a premier center for research in applied and basic rock mechanics. Set up under the Ministry of Mines. It is an ISO-9001:2008 certified research Institute.
  • INSTITUTE OF MINERS HEALTH (NIMH), Nagpur: It was established for promotion of occupational health and hygiene in mining and mineral based industries and for development of trained manpower in these fields. It was registered as Society in the State of Karnataka.
  • JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ALUMINIUM RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN CENTER (JNARDDC), Nagpur: It is a “Centre of Excellence” set up in 1989 and became fully functional since 1996. The Centre has well-established facilities for R&D activities in the field of bauxite, alumina and aluminium.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Notes