Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal has called for a nationwide push toward exploration, entrepreneurship, and policy-driven reforms to unlock India’s vast natural resource potential and reduce dependence on imports. Speaking at an industry event in New Delhi, Agarwal said India has the geology, talent, technology, and industrial capability needed to emerge as an energy-surplus and manufacturing-driven economy.
Drawing comparisons with India’s historic Green Revolution, Mr Agarwal said the country must now focus on what he described as a “Green Revolution for below-the-ground resources,” aimed at accelerating exploration and production in sectors such as oil and gas, copper, aluminium, zinc, gold, nickel, and critical minerals.
He noted that nearly half of India’s imports are linked to natural resources and energy requirements, resulting in significant outflows of capital that could otherwise support domestic employment and industrial development. According to Mr Agarwal, India possesses substantial geological reserves that remain underexplored and underutilized due to regulatory bottlenecks and limited investment in large-scale exploration initiatives.
Mr Agarwal emphasized that greater trust in entrepreneurs, faster approvals, and supportive policy frameworks could transform India’s resource sector and create long-term economic value. He said encouraging private participation and enabling operational flexibility would be critical to boosting domestic production and strengthening the country’s manufacturing ecosystem.
Highlighting Vedanta’s experience in managing and expanding major industrial assets, Mr Agarwal pointed to the transformation of Hindustan Zinc and Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) as examples of how entrepreneurship and technology can drive large-scale industrial growth. He said zinc production in India increased from approximately 1.4 lakh tonnes to nearly 30 lakh tonnes following modernization and investment initiatives, while aluminium production at BALCO has expanded significantly with plans to scale further in the coming years.
According to Mr Agarwal, these achievements demonstrate the impact of investment, innovation, and operational freedom in unlocking productivity and building globally competitive industries using existing assets and workforce capabilities. He reiterated that governments and private enterprises must work together to accelerate exploration and reduce India’s reliance on imported resources.
Mr Agarwal also highlighted the importance of workforce diversity and increasing participation of women in the manufacturing and natural resources sectors. He said women currently account for nearly 30 percent of Vedanta’s workforce and have consistently demonstrated strong leadership across businesses and operational functions. He added that expanding opportunities for women in industrial sectors will play an important role in India’s long-term economic and social development.
Calling for sustained reforms and accelerated exploration-led growth, Mr Agarwal said India has the opportunity to build a strong domestic resource base that can support industrial expansion, job creation, and energy security while positioning the country as a global manufacturing hub.
Vedanta Group is a diversified natural resources, energy, and technology conglomerate with operations spanning metals, mining, oil and gas, power, and critical minerals. The company operates across India, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and long-term value creation.
