logo
G. Kishan Reddy: The coal sector has been fired up to fuel India's growth

G. Kishan Reddy: The coal sector has been fired up to fuel India's growth

Mint25-05-2025

This month, as India's conflict with Pakistan was peaking, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved revisions to the country's Shakti Policy. These were part of a set of coal sector reforms that aim to transparently allocate coal to thermal power plants, while simplifying the processes around it.
This comes on the back of India's double achievement of surpassing 1 billion tonnes in coal production and despatch in 2024-25, a testament to the hard work of about 500,000 workers directly involved in mining, apart from several more who indirectly contribute to the sector.
Also Read: It's time to re-evaluate the utility of public sector units
India's journey to 1 billion tonnes is by no means an overnight transformation, but a result of a decade of deep reforms. In 2014, the coal sector was in complete disarray. There was a severe deficit in coal production, given its dramatically rising demand. Coal and lignite production saw a modest increase from 566 million tonnes in 2009-10 to 610 million tonnes in 2013-14. A cumulative annual growth rate of 1.89% was far from sufficient for our needs as a fast-growing economy.
This was being pegged as one of the biggest challenges for the newly elected Narendra Modi government.
The Supreme Court's cancellation of 204 coal blocks in 2015 gave the government an opportunity to seek transformational changes. The introduction of commercial coal mining followed in 2020, marking a new era of transparency and competition.
Also Read: Industrial revival may need a brand new public sector model
Ten years down the line, till March 2025, about 150 coal mines have been auctioned. As for commercial coal mining, 11 auction rounds have been completed since June 2020 and the 12th round is in progress. The results? India's coal production has seen a 70% growth over the last decade. State governments have been major beneficiaries. Auction premiums and royalties have added close to ₹4.4 trillion from the entire mining sector and ₹1.6 trillion from just the coal sector to state coffers.
The private sector as a strategic partner: After independence, coal output expansion was slow. A freight equalization policy provided no incentive to set up industries close to mines. On 17 May 1957, the then minister of steel, mines and fuel, Sardar Swaran Singh, introduced the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Bill in the Lok Sabha with the aim of greater public control over the coal mining industry. India's coal production at the end of the First Five Year Plan for 1951 to 1956 stood at 38 million tonnes.
Also Read: Rely on modern geothermal energy to power our AI ambitions
The Centre's policy was marked by distrust of the private sector. A lack of trust in the risk-taking and innovation capacity of the private sector kept the expansion of India's coal production slow, In 1990, it hovered around 200 million tonnes. The commercial auction regime introduced three decades later can be counted as a significant departure from the past.
The environmental and sustainability challenge: For decades, environmental concerns in the coal and mines sector were brushed under the carpet. However, over the past decade, sustainability has moved to the forefront. Diversification has gathered pace, with ongoing solar and wind projects, pumped storage plants and Coal India's first-ever non-coal critical mineral block acquisition.
Further, the Cabinet has green-lit auction premiums and royalties being received by various state government exchequers. A ₹8,500 crore coal gasification programme is underway and there are plans to increase investment further. Over the next few years, mine closure will remain a core priority. Guidelines are being revised to enable smooth mine closures.
Also Read: Sumant Sinha: Nuclear energy is a crucial piece in the puzzle of climate action
Recognizing the environmental advantages of underground mining, as opposed to open-cast mines, we have set a roadmap to reach 100 million tonnes by 2029-30, with its implementation in full swing. Furthermore, the ministry is fast-tracking first-mile connectivity projects to ensure that 90% of coal will be loaded through mechanized and eco-friendly systems such as conveyor belts.
The future of coal usage: Despite record coal production, India's per capita use of coal energy remains far below that of China, Europe and the US. Over the past decade, coal's contribution to the overall installed capacity of electricity generation has been on a downward glide path. From 60% of India's installed power capacity in 2014-15, the share of coal-fired generation capacity has now reduced to 47%, while solar and other renewable sources have ramped up. However, the coal sector still caters to almost 79% of power consumption in India, which makes it critical to our energy mix.
Meeting summer demand: Every year, a detailed action plan is prepared to meet peak summer-time demand. This year, as of 21 May, the coal stock at thermal power plants stood at 54.56 million tonnes, which is sufficient for about 20 days.
Coal usage for Viksit Bharat: India's per capita electricity consumption is less than one-third the world average. As our economy continues to grow, with a GDP of $5 trillion on the near-term horizon and output of $35 trillion expected by 2047, by when India aims to reach developed-country status, our energy needs will expand. Even as India plans to achieve carbon-emission neutrality by 2070, coal will continue to be a critical pillar in our energy mix for the foreseeable future.
Also Read: Don't deceive the poor world with an expensive green illusion
India's coal sector is not just fuelling India's economic growth, it is also rewriting the rules of what is possible in modern mining. With innovative initiatives such as a coal trading exchange, digital platforms are now deploying AI, 5G, GPS tracking and other advanced technologies in the coal sector, along with enhanced safety and efficiency measures.
Once dismissed as a corruption-laden, bloated and inefficient monolith, the coal and mines sector has undergone a seismic shift over the last decade. As we look to the future, with a sustained focus on modernization, international collaborations and sustainable practices, the journey ahead will see India achieve greater milestones, solidifying the country's role as a global leader in making good use of underground resources.
The author is union minister of coal and mines and represents the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Calcutta High Court reserves verdict on petition against state's aid to dismissed non-teaching staff
Calcutta High Court reserves verdict on petition against state's aid to dismissed non-teaching staff

United News of India

time19 minutes ago

  • United News of India

Calcutta High Court reserves verdict on petition against state's aid to dismissed non-teaching staff

Kolkata, June 9 (UNI): The Calcutta High Court on Monday reserved its judgment on a petition challenging the West Bengal government's recently introduced scheme that offers monetary assistance to non-teaching staff dismissed following a Supreme Court verdict. Justice Amrita Sinha reserved her decision on the petition, which opposes the state's plan to pay ex-gratia amounts of Rs 25,000 to Group C and Rs 20,000 to Group D employees. During the case hearing, Justice Singh questioned the state as to why the decision to grant the allowance was taken so hastily, without any discussion or scrutiny, following the Supreme Court's verdict. Justice Sinha also raised questions about the allowance amount. Addressing the state, she asked, "Why were the amounts set at Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000? On what basis were these figures determined?" The West Bengal government had launched the scheme to provide temporary financial relief and social security on humanitarian grounds to families affected by the dismissals. The scheme applies to Group C and D non-teaching staff who were recruited through the 2016 selection process conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) and have lost their jobs because of Supreme Court order. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, announcing the ex-gratia payments had said that the aid was a one-time measure aimed at supporting those left jobless after the Supreme Court's decision earlier this month in connection with the cash-for-jobs scam. The crisis began on April 3 when a Supreme Court bench led by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld a Calcutta High Court order dismissing 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff from state-run and aided schools. The apex court concluded that the entire 2016 recruitment process had been tainted by large-scale fraud and manipulation. While the court later allowed secondary school teachers (Classes IX–XII) to return to classrooms temporarily, it made no such concession for Group C and D employees. It also ordered the state to complete a fresh recruitment process by December 31. Meanwhile, the state has filed a review petition against the Supreme Court's ruling. 'Since a review petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, how long will the allowance continue to be paid?,' Justice Sinha asked. She also asked the state whether Group C and Group D employees would keep receiving the allowance without doing any work. UNI XC SSP

Govt targeting 2034 to hold 1st 'one nation, one election'
Govt targeting 2034 to hold 1st 'one nation, one election'

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Govt targeting 2034 to hold 1st 'one nation, one election'

NEW DELHI: As the govt is expecting to hold the first countrywide simultaneous polls by 2034 after passage of the constitutional amendment bill for 'one nation, one election', all state assemblies to be elected after 2029 will be for a shorter duration to align their tenure with the 2034 general elections. Head of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the 'one nation, one election' bill (The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024) PP Choudhary explained to TOI that after 2027, the assembly due to be elected in 2032 may have a tenure of only two years to ensure the synchronisation of the next elections in Uttar Pradesh-India's largest state electorally -with the Lok Sabha polls which may be held in 2034. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment Bill), 2024, have provisions for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. As per provisions of the constitution amendment bill, the President may issue a notification on the date of the first sitting of Lok Sabha after a general election, in all probability the one to be held in 2029, to spell when the next general elections will be due. The terms of all state assemblies constituted after this date will expire with the end of that Lok Sabha's five-year term. If Lok Sabha or a state assembly is dissolved earlier than its five-year term, an election for it will be held for a term equal to the remainder of the five-year term. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 전체임플란트 간단 뼈이식포함 300만원에 kimplant 더 알아보기 Undo This will synchronise its next election with the simultaneous elections cycle. Even in states, where polls will be due, elections for assemblies will be held only to align with the Lok Sabha polls. However, the bill states that if the Election Commission is of the opinion that election to a state assembly cannot be held along with the rest of the country, it may make a recommendation to the President in this regard. The President may issue an order to conduct an election for that assembly at a later date. The BJP MP from Pali in Rajasthan, Choudhary, said going by the JPC's working, its tenure may be extended as there was a consensus amongst panel members to visit states and UTs before making the final recommendations. So far, JPC members have visited Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. The bills had been introduced in LS in Dec last year and were referred to the Chaudhary-led panel which has been holding consultations with stakeholders for feedback.

Manesar land scam: Court to rule on charges against 3 more accused
Manesar land scam: Court to rule on charges against 3 more accused

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Manesar land scam: Court to rule on charges against 3 more accused

Panchkula: In a significant development in the Manesar land scam, a special CBI court has opted to first decide on framing charges against three more people before consolidating the chargesheet against former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and 30 others. Special CBI Judge Rajiv Goyal made the ruling last Friday, following the Punjab and Haryana high court's vacation of a stay on proceedings. The three individuals facing potential charges are former IAS officer D R Dhingra and private persons Dhare Singh and Kulwant Singh Lamba. The court has scheduled July 10 for resumed arguments regarding the chargesheet against this trio. The extensive case implicates former CM Hooda, his three ex-principal secretaries – Murari Lal Tayal (also facing another trial), S S Dhillon, and Chhattar Singh – as well as various companies and their office bearers involved in the controversial land transactions. The Supreme Court has stayed proceedings against another accused bureaucrat, Rajiv Arora, who was named in the initial chargesheet. The scam revolves around 914 acres of land in Manesar, Gurugram district, originally slated for acquisition to develop an Industrial Model Township (IMT). Following the Aug 2004 notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, a rush to acquire land at low prices ensued. Builders and land mafia reportedly capitalised on residents' panic, acquiring plots at "throwaway rates". Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo In 2007, the industrial department released the land from the acquisition process. Allegations of political patronage in the builder-official-land mafia nexus led aggrieved parties to court. Ultimately, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to probe the matter, leading to the chargesheet naming former CM Hooda. MSID:: 121731795 413 |

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store