India recorded its highest-ever coal production in 2024–25, with output rising 4.98 per cent year-on-year to 1,047.52 million tonnes (MT), according to the Ministry of Coal’s Year-End Review 2025.
The milestone underscores the sector’s role in ensuring energy security as coal continues to supply over half of India’s primary commercial energy needs.
During calendar year 2025, provisional coal production stood at 1,042.90 MT, while supplies reached 1,016.14 MT, reflecting uninterrupted availability and no reported shortages.
Stocks at domestic coal-based thermal power plants touched 50.31 MT by December 31, sufficient for 21 days of consumption and 17.42 per cent higher than a year earlier, enabling a 54.17 per cent reduction in imported coal blending.
The surge in domestic output helped cut coal imports by 7.9 per cent in 2024–25 to 243.62 MT, yielding foreign exchange savings of about USD 7.93 billion (Rs 60,681.67 crore).
Captive and commercial mines contributed 203.70 MT in CY 2025, a 12.75 per cent increase, while allocation orders were issued for 33 coal mines expected to generate nearly 67,000 jobs and attract investments exceeding Rs 7,430 crore.
Policy reforms featured prominently, including the rollout of CoalSETU, revisions to the SHAKTI linkage policy for greater flexibility, and steps toward establishing coal exchanges following amendments to the MMDR Act.
Digital initiatives such as the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) and streamlined mine approvals aim to accelerate operations and improve governance.
On sustainability, coal and lignite PSUs planted over 60 lakh saplings across 3,172 hectares in 2025, saved 214.44 million units of electricity annually through efficiency measures, and expanded renewable capacity to 2,076 MW.
Corporate social responsibility spending rose 31 per cent to Rs 885.44 crore, supporting healthcare, education, and livelihood programmes nationwide.
