The Government of India officially notified Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) through a notification dated January 27, 2026. The decision, taken on the recommendation of the High-Level Committee on Implementation of Viksit Bharat Goals (HLC-VB) and NITI Aayog, recognises coking coal's strategic role in securing India's steel sector. In the amended schedule, 'Coal' in Part A now reads 'Coal, including Coking Coal', and Coking Coal has been added to Part D — the Critical and Strategic Minerals list. Currently, approximately 95% of India's coking coal requirements for the steel sector are met through imports, leading to significant foreign exchange outflow. India has an estimated 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, largely in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. The notification will facilitate faster approvals, improved ease of doing business, and accelerated exploration of deep-seated deposits. Mining of critical minerals is exempt from public consultation requirements and permits use of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation. The move aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap, and is expected to significantly reduce India's import bill and strengthen domestic steel production.
Government Notifies Coking Coal as Critical and Strategic Mineral Under MMDR Act 1957 to Slash 95% Import Dependence
The Government of India officially notified Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) through a notification dated January 27, 2026. The decision, taken on the recommendation of the High-Level Committee on Implementation of Viksit Bharat Goals (HLC-VB) and NITI Aayog, recognises coking coal's strategic role in securing India's steel sector. In the amended schedule, 'Coal' in Part A now reads 'Coal, including Coking Coal', and Coking Coal has been added to Part D — the Critical and Strategic Minerals list. Currently, approximately 95% of India's coking coal requirements for the steel sector are met through imports, leading to significant foreign exchange outflow. India has an estimated 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, largely in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. The notification will facilitate faster approvals, improved ease of doing business, and accelerated exploration of deep-seated deposits. Mining of critical minerals is exempt from public consultation requirements and permits use of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation. The move aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap, and is expected to significantly reduce India's import bill and strengthen domestic steel production.
Key facts
- Coking coal officially notified as Critical and Strategic Mineral under MMDR Act through a notification dated January 27.
- Approximately 95% of India's coking coal for steel is currently imported.
- India has estimated 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources across four states.
- Mining of critical minerals is exempt from public consultation requirements.
- The notification allows use of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation.
- The move supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap goals.
Mains angle
Q: Discuss the significance of the Government of India's notification of Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the MMDR Act, 1957, for India's steel sector and import dependence.
Answer (50 words):
India notified Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral through a notification dated January 27, 2026, addressing 95% import dependence for steel production. With 37.37 billion tonnes of domestic resources across Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh, the notification enables faster approvals and accelerated deep-seated exploration aligning with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
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Which committee recommended notifying coking coal as a critical and strategic mineral under the MMDR Act?
The notification was based on recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Implementation of Viksit Bharat Goals (HLC-VB) and NITI Aayog, recognising coking coal's strategic role in India's steel sector.
Frequently asked questions
When and under which law was coking coal notified as a Critical and Strategic Mineral?
Coking coal was officially notified as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) through a notification dated January 27, 2026, on the recommendation of the High-Level Committee on Viksit Bharat Goals (HLC-VB) and NITI Aayog.
What is India's current level of import dependence on coking coal, and how large are domestic reserves?
India currently imports approximately 95% of its coking coal requirements for the steel sector. However, India has estimated domestic reserves of 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal spread across four states.
How does the notification of coking coal as a Critical Mineral change the regulatory process for mining it?
Under the MMDR Act, mining of critical minerals is exempt from mandatory public consultation requirements, which significantly accelerates the clearance and auction process. The notification also permits use of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation.
Why is coking coal specifically critical to India's steel industry unlike thermal coal?
Coking coal (metallurgical coal) is used in the production of coke, which is essential for smelting iron ore in blast furnaces to produce steel. It cannot be directly substituted by thermal coal, making it indispensable to the steel value chain.
How does this decision support the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap?
India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision requires a massive scale-up in domestic steel production. Securing coking coal self-sufficiency reduces import costs, strengthens the Aatmanirbhar Bharat goal, and lowers strategic vulnerability in a critical industrial input.
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