India, April 1 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
FY2021-22
Odisha
Ganjam
3999755
341450
Tamil Nadu
Kanyakumari
772866
63536
Kerala
Kollam
771189
137528
FY2022-23
Odisha
Ganjam
4354899
367493
Tamil Nadu
Kanyakumari
682256
54366
Kerala
Kollam
897025
151242
FY2023-24
Odisha
Ganjam
6017990
375402
Financial
State
District
Raw Sand Production (tonne)
Total Heavy Minerals (tonne)
Tamil Nadu
Kanyakumari
916175
60784
Kerala
Kollam
1182251
145655
FY2024-25
Odisha
Ganjam
6370502
397778
Tamil Nadu
Kanyakumari
713714
60899
Kerala
Kollam
1198251
173685
FY2025-26
Odisha
Ganjam
5785825
411869
Tamil Nadu
Kanyakumari
680511
41865
Kerala
Kollam
1526689
147913
Total production during last 5 years
35869898
2931465
Financial
State
District
Raw Sand Production (tonne)
Total Heavy Minerals (tonne)
Year
(till Feb,
Year
2026)
As per records available, total production of raw Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) and total value- added BSM (Total Heavy Minerals) is Nil during the last five (05) years in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
The Union Budget 2026-27 made an announcement to support the mineral-rich States of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to establish dedicated Rare Earth Corridors to promote mining, processing, research and manufacturing, thus, aligning these initiatives with the national priorities of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Net Zero 2070, and Viksit Bharat @2047, while positioning India as a key player in global advanced materials value chains.
As per the provisions under Section (5) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR), mining of atomic minerals (i.e. BSM in this case) equal to or above the threshold values (i.e. 0.00% monazite in Total Heavy Minerals, vide Ministry of Mines notification No. GSR134(E) dated 20.02.2019) shall be carried out only by the Government Company/Corporation, owned or controlled by the Government.
Section 23C of the MMDR Act, 1957 empowers the State Governments to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals and for the purposes connected therewith.
The details of state and district-wise production of raw Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) and total value-added BSM (Total Heavy Minerals) in the country during the last five years are given in table-
As regards illegal exports of BSM, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India issued Notification No. 26/2015-2020 dated 21.08.2018 on export policy on BSM under which export of BSM has been brought under State Trading Enterprise and shall be canalized through IREL (India) Limited (IREL).
As regards promoting domestic beneficiation capability, IREL has been mandated to mine and process the heavy mineral sands which includes rare earth bearing mineral viz. monazite in India. In addition, Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML), a State Public Sector
Enterprise (SPSE) under Government of Kerala also undertakes similar activity. IREL has been operating in three locations having the facility for integrated mining and processing of heavy mineral sands and a facility each for extraction and refining of Rare Earths. IREL possesses the requisite expertise across integrated mining, mineral separation, REE extraction and refining. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy collaborates with IREL to develop necessary technologies pertaining to processing of rare earths.
This information 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 Lok Sabha today on 1st April, 2026, Wednesday.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
