NEW DELHI, October 6 — The Ministry of Coal on Tuesday announced that cumulative domestic coal dispatches to thermal power generation utilities touched an all-time high of 410.5 million tonnes (MT) during the first half (April–September) of fiscal year 2026-27, registering a robust 6.8 percent year-on-year growth.
Consolidated performance data published by the ministry showed that sustained output expansion from Maharatna Coal India Limited (CIL), Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), and operational captive/commercial coal blocks maintained thermal power station coal inventories above 38 MT. This comfortable cushion eliminates grid contingency risks ahead of the post-monsoon industrial demand surge and forthcoming winter peak load cycles.
The Coal Secretary highlighted that multi-modal logistics synchronization under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan—specifically the commissioning of dedicated rail evacuation corridors and automated First-Mile Connectivity (FMC) mechanized coal handling plants—reduced rake turnaround delays significantly. Mechanized loading and enhanced domestic output directly suppressed domestic blending demand for expensive imported thermal coal by 18 percent year-on-year, generating vital foreign exchange savings.
Energy geography of India, Gondwana and Tertiary coal formations, commercial coal auction reforms, and environmental balancing under decarbonization strategies are recurring subjects in UPSC Civil Services (GS-I: Geography & GS-III: Energy Resources). Aspirants should note that India possesses the world's fifth-largest coal reserves, concentrated predominantly within the Damodar, Mahanadi, and Godavari river valley basins, with Coal India Limited accounting for over 80 percent of domestic coal extraction.