INDIA DISCOVERS ‘WHITE GOLD’ IN ITS ‘CROWN’

Author - Kartikeya Kumar

The element lithium is referred to as ‘White gold’ due its increasing importance in the contemporary world for making lithium-ion batteries. According to GSI (geological survey of India) 5.9 million metric tons of best quality lithium has been found in Salal-Himana region of Resai district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir . If the evaluation of GSI is correct India will become the country with second highest lithium reserves in the whole world, just below Chile.

Lithium ion batteries are used in every kind of electronics like torch, toys, smartphone , laptops, cameras, and electric vehicles . In 2019 The developers of lithium-ion batteries John B Goodenough, M Stanley Whittington and Akira Yoshina were also awarded Nobel prize in chemistry. Almost every country in the world is looking for a consistent lithium supply from a fixed source, to produce lithium-ion battery by themselves. India in search of lithium even went to south America to ask for permission of mining lithium in the lithium triangle which covers some areas of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.  Argentina even gave India two  lithium mines in exchange for money but that was not enough for such a big country like India. 

This discovery of lithium will have a very positive impact on India’s economy as it will not only make India self-sufficient in lithium reserves but will also make India capable of exporting lithium to big markets like the USA and the European Union. The financial statement of 2023 focused on the promotion of large-scale manufacture of electric vehicles which will help India to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and achieve sustainable environmental conditions. 

This discovery of white gold is not only important for India but will also help the development of a sustainable environment and reduction of dependency on fossil fuels worldwide. it is also going to increase employment and promote development in Jammu and Kashmir, this discovery was only possible after the removal of articles 370 and 35A. To conclude this discovery is going to boost India’s economy, help India to create a sustainable environment and reduce the dependency on India’s fossil fuels.

The Author, Kartikeya Kumar, is pursuing Bachelor's of Science in Anthropology from Amity University, Noida.