Anil Agarwal Urges National Push for India's Resource Self-Reliance

Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal has called for a stronger national push toward India’s resource self-reliance, saying the country must reduce its dependence on imported minerals, oil, and other critical resources.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Agarwal stressed that India should launch a mission-driven effort similar to the Green Revolution to unlock its natural resource potential and build long-term economic security and energy security.

He pointed out that almost half of India’s imports are linked to natural resources that come from beneath the ground, including crude oil, copper, and precious metals. According to Agarwal, increasing domestic exploration and production can help India save foreign exchange, generate large-scale employment, and strengthen industrial development.

Agarwal said India already has the right ingredients to become self-reliant in the resource sector. He highlighted the country’s rich mineral reserves, growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, and large young workforce as major strengths that can drive faster growth in mining and exploration activities.

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Comparing the current situation with India’s past agricultural transformation, he said the country once overcame food shortages through a collective national effort, and a similar approach is now needed in the natural resources sector. He added that India has the opportunity to build a stronger future by investing in exploration and encouraging innovation-led growth.

The Vedanta chairman also emphasized the importance of policy reforms and easier regulations to support private companies, startups, and investors entering the sector. He said simplifying approvals and building trust with entrepreneurs would encourage faster expansion in resource exploration and production.

Agarwal further noted that the mining and exploration industry could create significant employment opportunities for young Indians. He estimated that millions of people could directly or indirectly benefit from the growth of the sector if India aggressively develops its domestic resource capabilities.

His remarks come at a time when global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties are increasing concerns over import dependence. Industry observers believe that boosting domestic resource production could strengthen India’s energy security, improve industrial competitiveness, and support the country’s broader vision of becoming more self-reliant.