Before 2000, undivided Bihar was one of India's richest mineral states, with the coal of Jharia and Dhanbad, the iron ore of Singhbhum, the mica of Koderma and the copper of Ghatshila. The creation of Jharkhand took almost all of this. What remains in Bihar is modest — but not negligible — and BPSC regularly asks where it is.
Minerals remaining in Bihar
| Mineral | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Limestone | Rohtas and Kaimur (Banjari area) | Used in cement; the Kaimur plateau's Vindhyan rocks |
| Pyrite | Amjhore (Rohtas) | Used to make sulphuric acid; associated with the public sector Pyrites, Phosphates and Chemicals Ltd |
| Mica | Nawada, Gaya, Jamui (small deposits) | Most of the old "mica belt" is now in Jharkhand |
| Quartz and quartzite | Southern hills | Glass, construction |
| China clay | Bhagalpur region | Ceramics |
| Potash | Rohtas region (reported deposits) | Fertiliser |
| Gold | Jamui district (areas such as Sono / Karmatiya) | Geological surveys have reported a substantial gold ore deposit; commercial mining depends on further exploration and auctions |
| Saltpetre | Historically in north Bihar | The basis of Bihar's colonial-era saltpetre trade |
Energy
Thermal power
Bihar's electricity comes mostly from coal-based thermal plants, many run by NTPC:
| Plant | District | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Barh | Patna | NTPC super thermal power station |
| Kahalgaon | Bhagalpur | NTPC super thermal power station |
| Nabinagar | Aurangabad | NTPC and joint-venture plants |
| Barauni | Begusarai | Taken over by NTPC |
| Kanti (Muzaffarpur) | Muzaffarpur | Taken over by NTPC |
Coal comes largely from Jharkhand and other states.
Oil refining
- The Barauni Refinery (Begusarai), run by Indian Oil Corporation, was commissioned in the 1960s with Soviet collaboration.
- A petrochemical and fertiliser complex grew around Barauni; the Barauni fertiliser plant has been revived under the Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL) project.
Hydro power
- Limited, because Bihar's rivers flow across a flat plain.
- Small hydro projects on canals and at the Kosi and Gandak barrages (Valmikinagar).
Renewable energy
| Source | Notes |
|---|---|
| Solar | Rooftop solar; solar pumps for farmers; floating solar on water bodies; solar at government buildings |
| Biomass | Crop residues and rice husk |
| Ethanol | Bihar adopted an ethanol production promotion policy (2021) — among the first states to do so — to use maize, sugarcane and broken grains to make ethanol for blending |
The state's Renewable Energy agency (BREDA) promotes renewables.
Power sector reforms
- The Bihar State Electricity Board was unbundled into generation, transmission and distribution companies (North Bihar and South Bihar Power Distribution Companies) in 2012.
- Bihar expanded village electrification and household connections in the 2010s.
- Smart prepaid meters have been rolled out widely.
Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Dependence on outside coal | Few local energy resources |
| Low per capita consumption | Among the lowest in India |
| Distribution losses | Technical and commercial losses |
| Industrial demand | Limited industry means limited demand, and vice versa |
| Pollution | From thermal plants |
| Floods | Damage to transmission infrastructure |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Where are Bihar's pyrite deposits?
- In which district has a gold deposit been surveyed?
- Which refinery is located in Begusarai, and who runs it?
- Name two NTPC thermal plants in Bihar.
- Which policy did Bihar adopt in 2021 to promote biofuels?
Mains-style:
- "Bihar's development strategy must adapt to its lack of mineral resources." Discuss.
- Examine the prospects of renewable energy and ethanol in Bihar.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Bihar Public Service Commission website .
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