Q.Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in percentage. Discuss.
How to approach: Address all parts of the prompt systematically—covering positive dimensions, structural constraints, and a constructive Way Forward.
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Introduction
Despite its ancient geological origins as part of the mineral-rich Gondwanaland, India's mining sector contributes a meager 1.75% to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This stands in stark contrast to other Gondwana fragments like South Africa (7.5%) and Australia (6.99%).
Body
Reasons for Low Contribution:
- Geographical and Social Overlap: Major mineral reserves are located in ecologically sensitive forest areas inhabited by tribal communities. Balancing mineral extraction with tribal welfare and environmental conservation presents a democratic challenge.
- Regulatory and Legal Bottlenecks: The sector faces complex, multi-layered clearance processes (environmental, forest, and land acquisition), rendering projects economically unviable. Legal interventions, such as the Supreme Court's cancellation of coal block allocations, have also disrupted output.
- High Taxation and Levies: Indian mining is subjected to some of the highest tax burdens globally, including high royalty rates and double taxation.
- Inadequate Exploration: Highly restrictive licensing regimes have historically discouraged private investment in deep-seated mineral exploration.
- Public Sector Monopoly: Key sectors like coal have long been dominated by public sector undertakings (e.g., Coal India), leading to underutilization of assets and inefficiencies.
- Slow Technological Adoption: The transition toward modern, automated, and smart mining technologies has been slow.
Conclusion
The Indian mining sector possesses immense potential to drive industrial growth and reduce import reliance. Streamlining administrative clearances and addressing security challenges (such as Left-Wing Extremism in mineral belts) are essential steps forward.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2021 (Question 2) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper I — Heritage, History, Society & Geography → Physical, Human & Indian Geography |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 10 Marks • 150 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 7–8 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Discuss: Conduct a comprehensive, 360-degree exploration of the topic covering multiple perspectives. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
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This 2021 GS Paper I question carries 10 marks with a 150-word limit and uses the "Discuss" directive. Address all parts of the prompt systematically—covering positive dimensions, structural constraints, and a constructive Way Forward. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words) and aim to finish within 7–8 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2021 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper I — Heritage, History, Society & Geography under the syllabus module "Physical, Human & Indian Geography". You can explore all repeated questions from Geography in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Geography PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
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