About Chhattisgarh: Information on Industries, Geography, Economy & GSDP

Chhattisgarh is in the central part of India. The state shares its border with Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in the west, Uttar Pradesh in the north, Odisha and Jharkhand in the east, and Andhra Pradesh in the south.

At current prices, Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Chhattisgarh stood at Rs 3.62 trillion (US$ 51.83 billion) in 2020-21. GSDP (in Rs) of the state at current prices grew at a CAGR of 9.75 per cent between 2015-16 and 2020-21.

Chhattisgarh is presently one of the few states that have surplus power. Korba district in Chhattisgarh is known as the power capital of India. It is also among the few profitable states in terms of utility-based electricity. As of March 2020, Chhattisgarh had a total installed power generation capacity of 12,835.40 megawatt (MW), comprising 8,208.30 MW under private utilities, 2,211.05 MW under state utilities, and 2,416.05 MW under central utilities. Energy requirement in the state was 27,303 million units in 2019-20.

Mineral resources are Chhattisgarh's biggest strength. It is a leading producer of minerals such as coal, iron ore and dolomite. Moreover, considerable reserves of bauxite, limestone and quartzite are available in the state. Chhattisgarh is the only state in India that produced tin concentrates. The state accounts for 35.4 per cent of tin ore reserves of India.

Chhattisgarh has emerged as one of the most preferred investment destinations in India. The state (including Madhya Pradesh) attracted cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth US$ 1.43 billion between April 2000 and March 2020. During 2019, 61 Industrial Entrepreneurs' Memorandum (IEMs) were filed in Chhattisgarh with a proposed investment of Rs 5,132 crore (US$ 743.30 million).

Total merchandise export from Chhattisgarh was US$ 1,243.43 million in FY19 and US$ 960.39 million during Apr–Dec 2019.

A wide range of fiscal and policy incentives for businesses were announced under its Industrial Policy, 2014-19. Additionally, the state has well-drafted policies for the IT/ITeS, solar energy, agro and food processing, minerals and biotechnology sectors. Chhattisgarh stands fourth among Indian states in rankings based on ease of doing business and reforms implementation, according to a study by the World Bank and KPMG.

Key Sectors:

• Metals and Mining: Chhattisgarh is the only state in India to produce tin concentrates and accounts for 36 per cent of the country’s tin ore reserves. Dante Wada is the sole district producing tin from 6 mines. During 2018-19, tin concentrate production in the state stood at 19,410 kgs. Chhattisgarh's combined export of aluminium and products, iron and steel, and iron ore stood at US$ 727.48 million between Apr-Dec 2019. Value of minerals produced (excluding atomic, fuel and minor minerals) in the state in 2018-19 was Rs 9,575 crore (US$ 1.37 billion).
• Cement: Chhattisgarh has abundant limestone reserves that support a strong cement sector. Chhattisgarh accounts for around 5.4 per cent of the total limestone reserves in India. Limestone production in the state reached 38.48 million tonnes in 2018-19.
• Agriculture: Around 80 per cent employment in the state is dependent on agriculture. The state’s position as the ‘Rice Bowl of Central India’ and its reliance on agriculture has led to brisk growth in the food processing industry as a special-thrust industry. Non-Basmati rice is the most exported commodity from the state. Its export reached US$ 247.18 million in FY19 and US$ 184.77 million between Apr-Dec 2019. Total horticulture production in the state reached 9,876.16 thousand metric tonnes in 2018-19 with 775.02 thousand hectares of area under cultivation.
• Apparel: Chhattisgarh is one of the leading producers of tussar and kosa silks in the country and has the potential to be a strong player in the Indian apparel industry. Raw silk production in the state reached 349 metric tonnes in 2018-19 and 321 metric tonnes in 2019-20 (till January 2020).