Key facts

  • Forest Survey of India reported forest and tree cover of 8,09,537 sq km, or 24.62% of India's geographical area, in the State of Forest Report 2021.
  • The National Forest Policy 1988 sets a national target of 33% forest cover, making forest area a standard conservation fact for objective questions.
  • Alluvial soil covers about 43% of cultivated land and supports major crops in the Ganga-Indus plains and coastal deltas.
  • India has about 1,123 BCM of utilisable water resources, including 690 BCM of surface water and 433 BCM of groundwater.
  • Coal resources are about 400.72 billion tonnes as of 1 April 2025, with the Damodar Valley fields of Jharia and Raniganj forming India's richest coal...

Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    Forest Survey of India reported forest and tree cover of 8,09,537 sq km, or 24.62% of India's geographical area, in the State of Forest Report 2021.

  2. 2

    The National Forest Policy 1988 sets a national target of 33% forest cover, making forest area a standard conservation fact for objective questions.

  3. 3

    Alluvial soil covers about 43% of cultivated land and supports major crops in the Ganga-Indus plains and coastal deltas.

  4. 4

    India has about 1,123 BCM of utilisable water resources, including 690 BCM of surface water and 433 BCM of groundwater.

  5. 5

    Coal resources are about 400.72 billion tonnes as of 1 April 2025, with the Damodar Valley fields of Jharia and Raniganj forming India's richest coal belt.

  6. 6

    Bauxite is linked with aluminium industry, with major deposits at Panchpatmali and Koraput in Odisha and other deposits in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

  7. 7

    Bombay High is an ONGC-operated offshore oilfield near Mumbai, while Digboi in Assam is India's oldest oilfield, dated to 1889.

  8. 8

    India's renewable energy base is led by solar and wind, with the COP26 commitment of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

MAHILA SUPERVISOR study hubView study packs

Natural Resource Base of India

India's natural resource base includes forests, water, soils, minerals, petroleum, natural gas and energy resources. It is shaped by four broad physical settings: the Himalayas, the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain, the Peninsular shield and the long coastline. India's total geographical area is 32,87,240 sq km, and this large area gives the country sharp regional contrasts in rainfall, soils, vegetation and minerals.

For objective exams, the basic classification is simple. Renewable resources include forests, water, soil, solar, wind and tidal resources because they can be renewed naturally if managed carefully. Non-renewable resources include coal, petroleum, natural gas and minerals because they are exhausted with extraction and use. The Peninsular region is important for Gondwana coal, iron ore, bauxite and mica. The Indo-Gangetic plain is important for fertile alluvium and groundwater. The Himalayas and coasts support hydropower, biodiversity, fisheries, mangroves and offshore oil.

Remember the pattern: peninsular rocks give minerals, plains give agriculture, and coasts add petroleum, fisheries and mangroves.

Open the complete note

This public page shows the first available section. The study pack opens the complete topic with all revision material.

6 more sections in the complete note

Open study pack