---
title: "Thorium Reserves of India (Monazite Sands) — Definition"
description: "India's thorium reserves, found in monazite sands, are vital for its three-stage nuclear program and represent about a quarter of the world's total."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/thorium-reserves-of-india"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- India holds roughly a quarter of the world's thorium, concentrated in monazite-bearing beach sands along its southern and eastern coastlines, reserved for a three-stage nuclear programme.
- Why can India not generate electricity directly from its large thorium reserves?
- Where are India's principal monazite deposits located?
- How large are India's thorium reserves relative to the world?
- Who regulates thorium and monazite mining in India?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In 2011, the CAG and subsequent Tamil Nadu inquiries flagged large-scale illegal beach-sand mining in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts, where monazite-bearing placers containing atomic minerals were extracted and exported without Department of Atomic Energy authorisation.

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