Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Economic Times
Context: India’s coal and lignite production reached an unprecedented milestone, surpassing 1 billion tonnes in the fiscal year 2023-24, compared to 937 million tonnes in the previous fiscal.
- India aims to eliminate coal imports by 2025-26, with coal imports for blending purposes notably decreasing in FY24 compared to the previous fiscal.
The current status of the coal sector in India is as follows:
Geological reserves: India possesses the 5th largest geological reserves of coal globally and ranks as the 2nd largest consumer of coal in the world.
Production: Coal India Limited (CIL) stands as the largest producer, contributing to over 70% of coal production in India.
Import: In the fiscal year 2023-24 (until January 2024), India imported 217.75 million tonnes of coal. Non-coking coal dominates the imports, accounting for approximately 77% of the total imported coal.
