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Economic geography studies the spatial distribution of economic activities, including the utilization of resources, industrial locations, and regional economic development.

1. Agriculture:

  • Contribution to GDP: Around 15-17% (as of recent estimates)
  • Employment: Engages about 45% of the workforce
  • Major Crops:
    • Food Grains: Rice (Eastern states, Punjab, Haryana), Wheat (Punjab, Haryana, UP, MP)
    • Pulses: MP, UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra
    • Commercial Crops: Cotton (Gujarat, Maharashtra), Sugarcane (UP, Maharashtra), Jute (West Bengal, Assam)
  • Green Revolution Regions: Punjab, Haryana, Western UP
  • Recent Trends: Focus on diversification, organic farming, and cash crops

2. Minerals and Resources:

  • Coal: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh — accounts for over 80% of India’s coal reserves
  • Iron Ore: Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka
  • Bauxite: Odisha, Gujarat, Jharkhand
  • Petroleum & Natural Gas: Offshore Mumbai, Assam, Gujarat, KG Basin (Andhra Pradesh)
  • Gold: Kolar (Karnataka), Hutti (Karnataka)
  • Uranium: Jharkhand (Jaduguda mines)

3. Industrial Geography:

  • Major Industrial Regions:
    • Mumbai-Pune Region: Textiles, petrochemicals, automobiles
    • Delhi NCR: Electronics, IT, manufacturing
    • Bengaluru: IT hub, aerospace
    • Chennai: Automobile manufacturing
    • Kolkata-Haldia: Jute, chemicals, steel
  • Key Industries:
    • Textiles: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
    • Iron and Steel: Bokaro, Bhilai, Rourkela, Jamshedpur
    • Automobile: Chennai, Gurgaon, Pune
    • Petrochemicals: Jamnagar (world’s largest refinery), Mumbai

4. Energy Resources:

  • Conventional: Coal, petroleum, natural gas — major sources
  • Non-Conventional: Solar (Rajasthan, Gujarat), Wind (Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra), Hydro (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand)
  • Nuclear Power Plants: Tarapur (Maharashtra), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Kakrapar (Gujarat), Narora (UP)
  • Renewable Energy Target: India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030

5. Transportation and Trade:

  • Railways: Longest rail network in Asia — crucial for goods transport
  • Roadways: National highways (Golden Quadrilateral, Bharatmala project)
  • Waterways: Inland Waterways (NW-1: Ganga, NW-2: Brahmaputra)
  • Ports: Major ports — Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Navi Mumbai)
  • Trade:
    • Exports: Engineering goods, petroleum products, textiles, software
    • Imports: Crude oil, gold, electronics

6. Special Economic Zones (SEZs):

  • Introduced to boost exports and attract FDI
  • Key SEZs: Kandla (Gujarat), SEEPZ (Mumbai), Falta (West Bengal), Chennai
  • Sectors: IT, biotechnology, textiles, electronics

7. Regional Disparities:

  • Highly Developed: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat
  • Moderately Developed: Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka
  • Backward Regions: Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Northeastern states
  • Government Initiatives: Aspirational Districts Programme to uplift underdeveloped regions

8. Recent Initiatives and Policies:

  • Make in India: Boosts manufacturing and innovation
  • PM Gati Shakti: Focuses on multi-modal connectivity
  • National Logistics Policy: Enhances efficiency of logistics networks
  • Agri-Export Policy: Aims to double farmer income through improved exports

Key Facts for Prelims:

  • Largest coal reserve: Jharkhand
  • Top iron ore producer: Odisha
  • Leading agricultural state: UP (food grains)
  • Top industrial state: Maharashtra
  • Renewable energy leader: Rajasthan (solar), Tamil Nadu (wind)

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