RAS question
The Talcher coalfield is in which state?
Correct answer: (C) Odisha.
The Talcher coalfield is in Angul district of Odisha.
Explanation
Talcher is not just a coalfield name to remember; it is a location marker for Odisha's mineral belt. Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Coal places Mahanadi Coalfields Limited's mining operations at Talcher in Angul district, Odisha, and identifies MCL as a subsidiary of Coal India Limited. Talcher coalfield lies in Angul district of Odisha, is among India's large coal-producing areas, and is operated by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited. For RAS, the trap is that several eastern and central Indian states have famous coalfields, but Talcher specifically belongs to Odisha.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Jharkhand is a major coal-bearing state, but Talcher is in Angul district of Odisha.
- (B) West Bengal is associated with Raniganj, whereas Talcher is identified here as part of Odisha.
- (D) Chhattisgarh has coal areas such as Korba, but Talcher is located in Odisha, not Chhattisgarh.
Concept
This tests the mapping of major Indian coalfields to their states and districts. It recurs in RAS because mineral locations link Indian geography with industry, energy and regional economy questions.