Lok Sabha Question No. 6077 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Notification of Coking Coal as Critical and Strategic Mineral
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Mohibbullah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6077 ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026

## NOTIFICATION OF COKING COAL AS CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC MINERAL

## 6077. SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  notified  coking  coal  as  a  critical  and  strategic  mineral by amending the First Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and if so, the details and rationale for granting such status to a fossil fuel;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  independent  environmental,  ecological or climate impact assessment before classifying coking coal as a critical mineral particularly considering  its  potential  impacts  on  forests,  biodiversity,  water  resources  and public health in coal-bearing regions such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, etc.;

(c) the manner in which a high-carbon fossil fuel has been categorised as a critical mineral, a category  generally  reserved  globally  for  minerals  essential  for  clean-energy  technologies such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements; and

(d) the steps proposed by the Government to ensure that the classification of coking coal as a strategic mineral does not lead to dilution of environmental safeguards?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES

## (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY)

(a): The  Government  has  notified  coking  coal  as  a  critical  and  strategic  mineral  by amending the First Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 vide notification dated 27 January 2026, with the objective to accelerate production of domestic  coking  coal  to  promote  Atamnirbhar  Bharat  by  reducing  coking  coal  import. Presently, India's coking coal requirement is primarily met through imports despite having a significant reserve of about 37.37 billion tons (BT) in India as on 01.04.2025.

(b): As regards environmental, ecological or climate impact, though no specific assessment study has been conducted, the High Level Committee - Vikshit Bharat (HLC-VB), Niti Aayog, after detailed consultation with stakeholders, has recommended notifying coking coal as a Critical Mineral to expedite its domestic exploration and production and securing the needs of the steel sector required for infrastructure development.

(c) : The classification of coking coal as  a critical  and  strategic  mineral  is  based  on  its economic and strategic importance rather than its carbon profile. Coking coal is essential for steel production, which supports the infrastructure and industrial growth of the country. It may be noted that coking coal is used in steel making globally. Some other countries, including the US and the EU, have coking coal in their Critical Materials list.

(d): After notification of coking coal as a critical mineral, certain procedural relaxations will be available for the start of mining operations. However, environmental safeguards are not diluted, and the existing environmental regulatory framework remain applicable. All mining projects, including coking coal, continue to be governed by applicable environmental, forest and  wildlife  laws,  rules  and  procedures,  under  which  detailed  assessments  and  statutory clearances are mandatory before commencement of mining operations.

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