Mining contributes a major portion to the economy of the country and is considered as an important sector. The main companies in the mining field functioning in the public sector are as follows.

Government Companies in Exploration and Production of Coal / Lignite

Coal India Ltd:  They are one of the largest coal producers in the world. Their main aim is to produce sufficient quantity of coal to meet the demand without compromising on the quality.

Neyveli Lignite Corporation: The Company is mainly into lignite mining and power generation. They are the main supplier of sweet water from artesian aquifers to Chennai.

IISCO:  The company mainly functions in steel production and its functioning is combined with the parent company -Steel Authority of India.

The government of India has categorized Coal India Ltd, Neyveli Lignite Corporation etc as Maharatna companies.

Government Companies in Exploration of Metals

NALCO: National Aluminum Company Ltd. is mainly into the mining of bauxite and produce high quality aluminum. Their main aim is to become self sufficient in the industry to meet the demand of aluminum.

Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd: They are mainly into the mineral exploration activities except for coal. They try to connect discovery of minerals and their exploration so that the gap between these two can be eliminated. Some of the activities carried out by the Geological survey of India like mineral exploration, equipment etc are transferred and is now under the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd.

Bharat Gold Mines Ltd: The company was primarily into gold mining and was functioning under the ministry of mines. The gold mined by BGML was of world class quality and was also the largest producer of gold in Asia. They stopped their functioning, as the coal mines got exhausted due to continuous mining.

ONGC: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited contributes about 3/4th of the crude oil and natural gas production in India. It is also ranked among the fortune 500 companies.

Ircon: They are mainly into the transportation and construction field and their operations are diversified across the world.

Hindustan Zinc Ltd: The organization is mainly into the business of Zinc, Sulphuric acid and lead.

Hindustan Copper Ltd: It is the only company in India engaged in the production of Vertically Integrated copper. They are into smelting, mining, refining etc.

Sikkim Mining Corporation: They are mainly into the production of Copper, lead and zinc.

Government Companies in Iron Ore Sector

National Mineral Development Corporation: They function under the ministry of steel and are mainly involved in the production of various minerals like iron, graphite, copper etc.

Kudremukh Iron Ore company: It is categorized under the Mini Ratna company. The company manufactures and Export Iron Oxide Pellets. They also deliver pig iron as per the need of the domestic market.

Steel Authority of India Ltd: It is considered as one of the largest steel producing company in the world and is categorized as a Maharatna Company.

Orissa Mining Corporation: It functions under the state government and is into mining and processing of limestone, bauxite, manganese etc in different parts of Orissa.

Government Companies in Bauxite Mining and Aluminium Production

National Aluminium Company ltd: They are mainly into the mining of bauxite and produce high quality aluminum.

Government Companies in Copper and Rock Mining

Hindustan Copper Ltd: are mainly into smelting, mining, refining etc and also engaged in copper production that is vertically integrated.

Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Ltd: functions under the Rajasthan Government and are mainly into the production as well as marketing of non metallic minerals.

Andhra Pradesh Mining Development Corporation: they function under the Andhra Pradesh government and are into the exploration and development of Mineral resources.

Majority of companies in the mining in India belongs to the public sector. They explore and produce mineral resources as per the availability and need. Mining sector provides lots of job opportunities also.