In January 2026, coking coal was notified as a critical and strategic mineral under the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957. For exam preparation, this is not just a mining-sector update; it links India’s steel industry, import dependence, foreign exchange outflow and industrial self-reliance. Coking coal is an essential raw material for steel production through the blast furnace route. It is converted into coke, which works both as a fuel and as a reducing agent. This makes the update relevant for static GK areas such as mineral resources, industry and economic security.
India has about 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, yet nearly 95% of the steel sector’s requirement is met through imports. A major reason is that much of Indian coking coal is considered high in ash content and often needs blending with better-quality coal before use in steelmaking. Official information places the resources largely in Jharkhand, with additional resources in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. Import dependence has also risen in volume terms, from 51.20 million tonnes in 2020-21 to 57.58 million tonnes in 2024-25.
Through the notification, the central government amended the First Schedule of the MMDR Act and included coking coal in the list of critical and strategic minerals. The policy significance lies in faster exploration, mining, development of deep-seated deposits, approvals and private investment. For RAS and UPSC-style exams, the topic can appear as a factual prelims question and as an analytical mains issue around import dependence, industrial policy, mineral security, supply-chain resilience and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.