India's Untapped Gold and Diamond Reserves: Anil Agarwal Reveals Country's Hidden Mineral Wealth at NDTV Summit

Vedanta Group Founder and Chairman Anil Agarwal revealed at the NDTV World Summit that India possesses some of the world's richest gold and diamond reserves, yet these resources remain largely untapped.

During his address at the summit themed 'Building Bharat: Purpose, Profit, Planet', Agarwal, who has a background in geology, emphasized India's exceptional natural wealth.

"I can tell you one thing, I'm a geologist, again I'm saying the world best reserve is in India for gold and diamond. We don't produce even a kilo," Agarwal stated during his presentation.

Sharing his personal journey, Agarwal described himself as "just a boy from Bihar who didn't know anything. Khali tamannayein thi ki kuch karna hai (I just had a wish to do something)."

He continued, "I never sat on a plane or a double-decker bus. These were all dreams. I am originally from Rajasthan who later moved to Bihar. We, the people of Rajasthan, went to every corner of the country. After that, I grew up in Patna. I have gone to Bombay."

Agarwal has maintained a consistent belief in India's underground resources for decades, noting, "I have kept remembering only one thing for the past 30 years, the only way forward is below the ground, critical matters, oil and gas. Today, nothing can happen without India's presence. I always believe that the world has come up because of 'below the ground' (digging)."

The Vedanta Group stands as one of the world's largest diversified natural resources conglomerates. Agarwal's remarkable journey began when he left Bihar at age 19 for Mumbai with minimal possessions but significant aspirations.

Despite facing numerous setbacks, including nine failed business ventures over a decade, Agarwal persevered and established the Vedanta Group in 1976. With over 45 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has transformed the company from a domestic mining operation into a global natural resources powerhouse.

Under Agarwal's leadership, Vedanta has developed a diverse portfolio spanning oil and gas, zinc, silver, aluminum, copper, nickel, iron and steel, and power sectors. The group is now expanding into semiconductor and display glass production, aiming to create a world-class electronics manufacturing ecosystem in India.