The Indian Mining Industry An Economic, Social, and Environmental Analysis

The Indian Mining Industry: An Economic, Social, and Environmental Analysis delves into the intricate workings of India's mining sector by exploring the complex interplay between profit, people, and the planet. Using statistical data, case studies, and expert opinions, Parida and Madheswaran examine the productivity, efficiency, and compliance of the Indian mining industry, focusing on Odisha's Jajpur district as a case study. By employing plant-level data from 2000 to 2017 and advanced econometric methods, the authors reveal the industry's impact on output, income, and employment, while highlighting key challenges such as a low reserves-to-production ratio, inadequate investment and infrastructure, procedural delays, land acquisition issues, a shortage of skilled human capital, corruption, lack of sustainability, and a complex policy environment. The book also examines energy efficiency across sub-sectors and the environmental and social performance of mining firms, revealing significant gaps in compliance and commitment towards maintaining environmental quality and biodiversity. This comprehensive analysis thus provides valuable insights for academicians, practitioners, and policymakers aiming to balance economic growth with sustainable development.

Meenakshi Parida, Assistant Professor of Economics and Law, National Law University, Delhi,S. Madheswaran, RBI Chair Professor and Head, Centre for Economic Studies and Policy, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru

Meenakshi Parida is an Assistant Professor of Economics and Law at the National Law University of Delhi, India. Dr. Parida completed her PhD from the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, under the University of Mysore in 2022. Her research interests lie in industrial economics, energy economics, environmental economics, and public policy. She has published research papers in reputed national and international journals in the field of natural resource economics.

S. Madheswaran is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Chair Professor and Head, Centre for Economic Studies and Policy, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, India. His areas of specialization include the economics of education, economics of labour, environmental economics, and public policy along with applied econometrics. He has published 120 papers and several books on these topics in both international and national refereed economics journals. His teaching interests span development economics and econometrics. Dr. Madheswaran has completed many government projects, the outcomes of which have been used as mid-course policy corrections.