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Informist, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

 

MUMBAI – The government has notified coking coal as a critical and strategic mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, the coal ministry said Thursday. The move is part of an ongoing structural reform in the mining sector and in line with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047, the ministry said in a press release

 

The inclusion of coking coal in this category is expected to speed up approvals, enhance ease of doing business, and hasten exploration and mining activities, including for deep-seated deposits. Mining of critical minerals is exempt from the requirement for public consultation and allows the use of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation, steps that are also likely to spur higher private sector participation, according to the release.

 

The move is expected to cut dependence on imports, bolster supply-chain resilience of the steel industry, and advance the goals of the National Steel Policy. It is also likely to encourage private investment in exploration and beneficiation, spur the adoption of advanced mining technologies, and create jobs across the mining, logistics, and steel value chain.

 

This decision has been taken on the basis of recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Implementation of Viksit Bharat Goals and policy inputs from NITI Aayog, recognising the strategic role of coking coal in ensuring mineral security and meeting the requirements of the domestic steel sector, the ministry said.

 

India has an estimated 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, largely located in Jharkhand, with additional reserves in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. Despite this, imports of coking coal increased to 57.58 million tonnes in 2024–25 (Apr-Mar) from 51.20 million tonnes in 2020–21. Currently, around 95% of the steel sector's coking coal requirement is met through imports, leading to significant foreign exchange outgo, the ministry said.  End

 

Reported by Udita S. Jaiswal 

Edited by Ashish Shirke

 

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