Historical sites, farm land and rich minerals characterise Ballari district.

Ballari district is spread from southwest to northeast and is situated on the eastern side of Karnataka state.

The important crops grown are cotton, jowar, groundnuts, rice, sunflowers and cereals.

The western taluks of the district have been plagued by low rainfall for successive years.

However, during the current and preceding years, heavy rains have created havoc in the district leaving many in the lurch.

The non-metallic minerals include andalusite, asbestos, corundum, clay, dolomite, limestone, limekankan, moulding sand, quartz, soap stone, granite and red ochre.

The metallic minerals are abundant is only two talukas, Sanduru and Ballari in the order of mining activity intensity.

Mining Industry boomed with a surge in Iron Ore prices due to demand from emerging China.

Mining licence allocation policy from Central govt was based on Political Nepotism rather than merit.

Ombudsman's report on mining in Karnataka state found that the promoters of privately owned mining companies in the Ballari region paid off politicians, and then joined politics themselves, rising to positions in the Karnataka state government.

These mining businessmen-turned-politicians exerted so much influence over the local officials that the Indian media began describing Ballari as a "new republic".

There are 23 units of large and medium scale industries in this district with an investment of Rs.447.76 crores employing around 9,222 persons At present it occupies ninth place in the state.

However, with the commissioning of Jindal Vijayanagar Steel Limited at Tornagallu, the industry scenario of this district underwent sea changes.

However, the mining industry in Ballari has caused devastating environmental damage and subsequent socioeconomic crises.

[8] According to the 2011 census Ballari district has a population of 2,452,595,[2] roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait[10] or the US state of Nevada.