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VISION IAS
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G.S. PAPER I - GEOGRAPHY
DISTRIBUTION OF KEY NATURAL RESOURCES ACROSS THE WORLD
(INCLUDING SOUTH ASIA AND THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT)
Copyright © by Vision IAS
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without prior permission of Vision IAS
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Website - https://upscpdf.com
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Contents
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Uneven Distribution of Resources .............................................................................................................. 3
2 Classification of Resources ................................................................................................................................. 3
3 Energy Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 Coal ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
3.1.1 Coal in India ........................................................................................................................................ 6
3.2 Petroleum ................................................................................................................................................... 7
3.3 Natural Gas ............................................................................................................................................... 10
3.3.1 Shalegas ............................................................................................................................................ 12
3.3.2 Coalbed Methane (CBM) .................................................................................................................. 13
3.4 India – Petroleum – Petroleum and Natural Gas ..................................................................................... 13
3.5 Nuclear ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.1 India .................................................................................................................................................. 19
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1 Introduction
Natural resources which satisfy the material and spiritual needs of humans are the free gifts of the nature. In
other words, any material or energy derived from the nature that is used by humans called a natural resource.
These resources include land, water, minerals, vegetation, wildlife etc. In fact every material has some utility for
human beings but its utilisation is possible on the availability of appropriate technology.
Distribution of natural resource refers to the geographic occurrence or spatial arrangement of resources on
earth. In other words, where resources are located. Any one place may be rich in the resources people desire
and poor in others.
1.1 Uneven Distribution of Resources
Low latitudes (latitudes close to the equator) receive more of the sun's energy and much precipitation, while
higher latitudes (latitudes closer to the poles) receive less of the sun's energy and too little precipitation. The
temperate deciduous forest biome provides a more moderate climate, along with fertile soil, timber, and
abundant wildlife. The plains offers flat landscapes and fertile soil for growing crops, while steep mountains and
dry deserts are more challenging. Metallic minerals are most abundant in areas with strong tectonic activity,
while fossil fuels are found in rocks formed by deposition (sedimentary rocks).
However, uneven distribution of natural resources have their own consequences on human settlement,
economic activities, trade and even on conflict and war. Human settlement has been found near the natural
resources in pre-historic time. Natural resources form the backbone of the economy of a nation. Without land,
water, forest, mineral one cannot develop agriculture and industry. By utilising natural resources, humans
created their own world of houses, buildings, means of transport and communication, industries etc.
2 Classification of Resources
Resources can be classified in several ways: one the bases of (i) renewability, (ii) origin and (iii) utility. The
objective of classification would primarily decide how we put a resource under a particular category.
Figure 1: Classification of Resources
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3 Energy Resources
Energy is an essential input for economic development and improving the quality of life. It is required for
generation of power, required by agriculture, industry, transport and other sectors of the economy. Energy may
be classified into two categories, namely:
• Conventional – Coal, Petroleum, Natural gas and electricity
• Non-conventional – solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, and biogas energy
Other classification can be made between –
• Non-renewable resources – which when exhausted are exhausted forever such as coal etc.
• Renewable resources – which are inexhaustible such as wind energy, solar energy etc.
3.1 Coal
Coal is a one of the important minerals which is mainly used in the generation of thermal power and smelting of
iron ore. It is the one of the most mined mineral from the earth. According to one estimate, proven coal reserves
are 860, 938 million tonnes.
Of the three fossil fuels (Petroleum, natural gas and coal), coal has the most widely distributed reserves; coal is
mined in over 100 countries, and on all continents except Antarctica. The largest proved reserves are found in
the United States, Russia, China, Australia and India (figure 2). A proved recoverable reserve is the tonnage of
coal that has been proved by drilling etc. and is economically and technically extractable. Coal is found majorly in
forms of Lignite [1] and Anthracite. Distribution of coal across the world is shown in figure 3.
Figure 2: Global share of recoverable coal reserves
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VISION IAS
www.visionias.in
G.S. PAPER I - GEOGRAPHY
DISTRIBUTION OF KEY NATURAL RESOURCES ACROSS THE WORLD
(INCLUDING SOUTH ASIA AND THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT)
Copyright © by Vision IAS
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without prior permission of Vision IAS
1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
Website - https://upscpdf.com
,https://t.me/UPSC_PDF Website - https://upscpdf.com https://t.me/UPSC_PDF
Contents
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Uneven Distribution of Resources .............................................................................................................. 3
2 Classification of Resources ................................................................................................................................. 3
3 Energy Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 Coal ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
3.1.1 Coal in India ........................................................................................................................................ 6
3.2 Petroleum ................................................................................................................................................... 7
3.3 Natural Gas ............................................................................................................................................... 10
3.3.1 Shalegas ............................................................................................................................................ 12
3.3.2 Coalbed Methane (CBM) .................................................................................................................. 13
3.4 India – Petroleum – Petroleum and Natural Gas ..................................................................................... 13
3.5 Nuclear ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.1 India .................................................................................................................................................. 19
2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
Website - https://upscpdf.com
,https://t.me/UPSC_PDF Website - https://upscpdf.com https://t.me/UPSC_PDF
1 Introduction
Natural resources which satisfy the material and spiritual needs of humans are the free gifts of the nature. In
other words, any material or energy derived from the nature that is used by humans called a natural resource.
These resources include land, water, minerals, vegetation, wildlife etc. In fact every material has some utility for
human beings but its utilisation is possible on the availability of appropriate technology.
Distribution of natural resource refers to the geographic occurrence or spatial arrangement of resources on
earth. In other words, where resources are located. Any one place may be rich in the resources people desire
and poor in others.
1.1 Uneven Distribution of Resources
Low latitudes (latitudes close to the equator) receive more of the sun's energy and much precipitation, while
higher latitudes (latitudes closer to the poles) receive less of the sun's energy and too little precipitation. The
temperate deciduous forest biome provides a more moderate climate, along with fertile soil, timber, and
abundant wildlife. The plains offers flat landscapes and fertile soil for growing crops, while steep mountains and
dry deserts are more challenging. Metallic minerals are most abundant in areas with strong tectonic activity,
while fossil fuels are found in rocks formed by deposition (sedimentary rocks).
However, uneven distribution of natural resources have their own consequences on human settlement,
economic activities, trade and even on conflict and war. Human settlement has been found near the natural
resources in pre-historic time. Natural resources form the backbone of the economy of a nation. Without land,
water, forest, mineral one cannot develop agriculture and industry. By utilising natural resources, humans
created their own world of houses, buildings, means of transport and communication, industries etc.
2 Classification of Resources
Resources can be classified in several ways: one the bases of (i) renewability, (ii) origin and (iii) utility. The
objective of classification would primarily decide how we put a resource under a particular category.
Figure 1: Classification of Resources
3 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
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,https://t.me/UPSC_PDF Website - https://upscpdf.com https://t.me/UPSC_PDF
3 Energy Resources
Energy is an essential input for economic development and improving the quality of life. It is required for
generation of power, required by agriculture, industry, transport and other sectors of the economy. Energy may
be classified into two categories, namely:
• Conventional – Coal, Petroleum, Natural gas and electricity
• Non-conventional – solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, and biogas energy
Other classification can be made between –
• Non-renewable resources – which when exhausted are exhausted forever such as coal etc.
• Renewable resources – which are inexhaustible such as wind energy, solar energy etc.
3.1 Coal
Coal is a one of the important minerals which is mainly used in the generation of thermal power and smelting of
iron ore. It is the one of the most mined mineral from the earth. According to one estimate, proven coal reserves
are 860, 938 million tonnes.
Of the three fossil fuels (Petroleum, natural gas and coal), coal has the most widely distributed reserves; coal is
mined in over 100 countries, and on all continents except Antarctica. The largest proved reserves are found in
the United States, Russia, China, Australia and India (figure 2). A proved recoverable reserve is the tonnage of
coal that has been proved by drilling etc. and is economically and technically extractable. Coal is found majorly in
forms of Lignite [1] and Anthracite. Distribution of coal across the world is shown in figure 3.
Figure 2: Global share of recoverable coal reserves
4 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
Website - https://upscpdf.com
