Consider the following statements with regard to the mining industry of India : 1. The spatial distribution of minerals is uneven. 2. The mining industry since colonial days has been export- oriented. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is correct as India's mineral resources are highly unevenly distributed due to geological structures and processes. Peninsular rocks contain most coal and metallic reserves, while the northern alluvial plains are largely devoid of economic minerals [1]. Statement 2 is also correct; the mining industry in India has a strong colonial legacy of being export-oriented. During the colonial era, the British focused on extracting and exploiting minerals for export to developed nations, a pattern that largely continued post-independence [2]. This export-driven focus often resulted in minerals fetching low prices in international markets while neglecting domestic industrial integration [2]. The historical emphasis on extraction from accessible regions for export has also contributed to long-term regional disparities in resource distribution and development.

Sources

1. [1] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > Dig a little deeper: What is the difference between an open pit mine, a quarry and an underground mine with shafts? > p. 107
2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Natural Resources of India > p. 31