NMDC Becomes First Indian Miner to Produce 50 MT Iron Ore

National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC), which is India’s largest iron ore producing company and a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Steel, has created history by becoming the first mining company in the country to produce 50 million tonnes (MT) of iron ore in a single financial year.

Established in the year 1958 with the objective of developing India’s iron ore resources, NMDC had produced about 10 MT in the year 1978.

Over the past few decades, production has increased fivefold, reaching a historic level of 50 MT in the financial year 2025-26. This shows that the company is continuously becoming the backbone of India’s iron ore supply chain.

NMDC reaching the figure of 50 million tonnes also highlights the rapid growth in its pace of development in recent years. Since the year 2015, production has increased by nearly two-thirds, rising from about 30 MT to 50 MT.

As India moves towards the goal of increasing its steel production capacity to 300 million tonnes by the year 2030, ensuring a stable and reliable domestic supply of iron ore has become a strategic priority.

Distribution of iron ore in India

Odisha-Jharkhand belt - It is the largest and richest iron ore belt in India. Major mining areas include Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Singhbhum. It produces high-quality hematite and magnetite.

Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt - It is spread across Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. It is known for the Bailadila range, which contains high-grade hematite.

Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikkamagaluru-Tumakuru belt - Located in Karnataka, it contains both hematite and magnetite types of ore.

Major states related to iron ore production in India

Odisha is the largest producer of iron ore in India, contributing more than 50% of the country’s total production. Major iron ore-bearing districts include Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, and Jajpur.

Odisha supplies raw materials to major steel plants such as the Rourkela Steel Plant and also assists in exports through Paradip Port.

Chhattisgarh is the second largest producer of iron ore in India. The famous Bailadila iron ore range located in Dantewada district is known for its extremely high-quality hematite, with iron content often exceeding 65%.

This state contributes about 15–18% to India’s total iron ore production. The iron ore obtained from this region is very important for plants such as the Bhilai Steel Plant and is also exported.

Karnataka is a major producer of iron ore in southern India, contributing about 10–12% to the total production.

National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC)

Incorporated in the year 1958 as a CPSE (Central Public Sector Enterprise). NMDC is the largest producer of iron ore in India.

Apart from iron ore, it also explores various minerals such as copper, limestone, etc. Its nodal ministry is the Ministry of Steel and its headquarters is in Hyderabad.

Additionally, NMDC is the only organized producer of diamonds in India from its Majhgawan mine located in Panna, Madhya Pradesh. It is the largest government producer company, which operates large mechanized mines in Chhattisgarh (Bailadila) and Karnataka.