Jharkhand is in the eastern part of India. The natural resources, policy incentives and location-specific advantages of Jharkhand support investments in sectors such as mining and metal extraction, engineering, iron and steel, and chemicals. At current prices, Jharkhand’s gross state domestic product (GSDP) is estimated to stand at ~Rs. 3.81 trillion (US$ 46.49 billion) in 2022-23.
Jharkhand is rich in mineral resources such as coal (27.3% of India’s reserves), iron ore (26% of India’s reserves), copper ore (18.5% of India’s reserves), uranium, mica, bauxite, granite, limestone, silver, graphite, magnetite and dolomite. Since Jharkhand has around 40% of the country's mineral wealth, its extensive mineral resources make mining, metals, and related sectors especially lucrative for investments. Jharkhand is the only state in India to produce coking coal, uranium, and pyrite. The state is also a leading producer of coal, mica, kyanite and copper. Jharkhand is the largest producer of tussar silk (a non-mulberry silk) in India. Mineral production (excluding fuel minerals, atomic minerals and minor minerals) in the state stood at Rs. 10,172.47 crore (US$ 1.38 billion) in FY21 (until January 2021).
The state’s coal reserves are estimated at around 33 billion tonnes. Jharkhand accounts for 20-25% of the total steel produced in the country. In FY22, Jharkhand produced 72 thousand tonnes of limestone that was valued at Rs. 35,005 (US$ 0.42 million).
The state is the largest producer of tussar silk (a non-mulberry silk) in the country with 76.4% share in the total output. The state's raw silk production stood at 2,402 MT in FY20, 2184 MT in FY21 and 1,046 in FY22.
According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Jharkhand stood at US$ 6 million in FY23 and were US$ 2.65 billion between October 2019-March 2023.
As of January 2023, the number of IEMs filed were 2 and the value of proposed investments stood at Rs. 412 crore (US$ 50.3 million).
Total exports from the state stood at US$ 1.36 billion in 2022-23. Exports from the state stood at US$ 2.44 billion in 2021-22.
The following are some of the major initiatives taken by the Government to promote Jharkhand as an investment destination:
- In four years (2018-19 and 2021-22), Jharkhand has attracted new investment proposals of over Rs. 1.10 lakh crore (US$ 13 billion), completed projects of Rs. 52,893 crore (US$ 6.45 billion), and revived pending proposals worth Rs. 287.45 crore (US$ 35.1 million), according to the study jointly conducted by the MSME Export Promotion Council and the Confederation of Organic Food Producers & Marketing Agencies (COII).
- Union Minister of Roads Transport and Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, in March 2023, promised to bolster infrastructure in Jharkhand and asserted that Rs. 2 lakh crore (US$ 24 billion) highway network will be rolled out in the state by 2024.
- Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated the Deoghar airport in July 2022, which has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 400 crore (US$ 48.8 million). The Terminal Building of the airport is equipped to handle over five lakh passengers annually.
- The Jharkhand government unveiled an ambitious new solar policy (Jharkhand Solar Policy, 2022) aiming at increasing clean energy capacity up to 4,000 megawatts in the next five years.
- As per the State Budget 2023-24, the government has allocated Rs. 5,831 crore (US$ 711.4 million) for the agriculture and allied activities sector.
- As per the State Budget 2023-24, Rs. 5,630 crore (US$ 860.1 million) has been allotted to the health & family welfare sector.
- A slew of road projects, measuring a collective length of 752 km and worth Rs. 13,299 crore (US$ 1.62 billion) were inaugurated and their foundation stones were laid in March, 2023 in Jharkhand.
- To commemorate World Tribal Day, Jharkhand Chief Minister Mr. Hemant Soren said that the state government would provide farming machinery, equipment and other items worth Rs. 734 crore (US$ 100 million) to 2 lakh farmers in August 2021.
- In August 2021, Jharkhand unveiled an industrial policy that intends to attract investments up to Rs. 1 lakh crore (US$ 1.3 trillion), as the government plans to build the state as a centre for electronics system design and production.
- Under the Union Budget 2021-22, Rs. 4,018 crore (US$ 551.09 million) has been allocated towards roads and bridges projects in the state.
- In April 2021, the government has approved 14 highway projects worth Rs. 670 crore (US$ 91.89 million) in the state.
- In April 2021, the Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mr. Piyush Goyal dedicated Hansdiha-Godda new rail line in Jharkhand. The project has attracted an investment of Rs. 550 crore (US$ 75.44 million) so far.
- In 2019-20, the total production of horticulture crops in the state was expected to be 4,740.13 thousand metric tonnes and area under production was 418.87 thousand hectares. In 2021-22, the total production of vegetables and fruits was at 3,818.21 thousand metric tonnes and 1,312.18 thousand metric tonnes, respectively.
- As per Economic Survey of Jharkhand 2022-23, the total cultivated area under kharif crops stands at 2,536.28 thousand hectares in 2021-22, of which paddy occupies ~69.5% of the total area.
- In February 2021, the CSR policy was launched to create a conducive environment for attracting CSR investments and best management practices to address the developmental challenges in the state.
- In September 2019, second Multi Modal Terminal built at Sahibganj in Jharkhand was inaugurated, which was constructed on the river Ganga under Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).
- Two SEZ has been notified first at Adityapur (adjoining Jamshedpur) for the automotive industry and second at Adani Power (Jharkhand) Ltd. for power industry.
- As of April 2019, 13,713 habitations were eligible under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), out of which 11,065 were cleared and further 10,661 habitations were connected.
- As of May 2023, Jharkhand had a total installed power generation capacity of 2,478.5 MW, comprising 702.2 MW under private utilities, 554.05 MW (state utilities), and 1,422.25 MW (central utilities).