Odisha has emerged as a potential new hub for gold mining following confirmed discoveries of gold reserves in multiple districts. The Geological Survey of India identified these during recent mineral exploration projects, prompting immediate interest in mining and auction strategy.
Gold deposits have been confirmed in Deogarh (Adasa-Rampalli), Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, Keonjhar, Angul, and Koraput, and exploratory work is underway in Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, Sambalpur, and Boudh. This became public in March 2025, when Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena confirmed the findings in the Odisha legislative assembly.
Estimated Quantities: What We Know
No official figures have been released yet. However, based on geological indicators, analysts estimate the reserves may range between 10 to 20 metric tonnes, a sizeable amount, though modest relative to India’s gold import volumes.
For context:
- India imported around 700–800 metric tonnes of gold in the previous year.
- Domestic gold production is minimal, just 1.6 tonnes annually as of 2020.
Though Odisha’s discovery won’t drastically shift India’s gold landscape, it does open doors for domestic extraction and economic diversification.
