Pratidin
Economy22 September 2026The Hindu, Page 13

Nearly 40% of coal power plants are critically low on fuel

India has vast coal reserves. Why do plants still run short?

Published 22 September 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work

Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data show that 74 of the 190 coal-based power plants it monitors, nearly 40%, had critically low coal stocks as of 19 September, up from about 60 a week earlier and 45 at the end of August. A plant is 'critical' when its stock falls below 25% of the normative requirement or covers less than three days of generation.

Bituminous coal.
Bituminous coal. Amcyrus2012, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The shortfall is not from a lack of coal. India produces over a billion tonnes a year, and Coal India held about 76 million tonnes at its pitheads in early September. The problems are demand and logistics: peak power demand has hovered near the record 270.70 GW set in May as El Niño-driven heat raised cooling needs, heavy rain in mining regions disrupted output and transport, lower reservoir levels reduced hydropower, and there is too little battery storage to shift daytime solar power to the evening.

The government says there is no immediate threat to supply. An inter-ministerial group monitors low-stock plants daily, Coal India has offered extra coal beyond contracted quantities and increased road shipments, and railway rakes for coal were raised to 444 on 6 September from 370 three days earlier. Under CEA norms for September, pithead plants should hold 12 days of stock and non-pithead plants 20 days.

Practise this in the app: flashcards, quiz and a timed answer
Prelims

Prelims facts

  • The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) sets coal stock norms for thermal plants and publishes daily stock data.
  • A plant is classified as 'critical' when its coal stock is below 25% of the normative requirement.
  • Shortages usually come from logistics, rain-hit mining and demand spikes rather than a lack of coal reserves.

Quick recall

How many coal plants had critically low stocks on 19 September 2026?
74 of the 190 monitored by the CEA, nearly 40%.
What makes a plant 'critical' on coal stock?
Stock below 25% of the normative requirement.
How much coal does India produce a year?
Over a billion tonnes.
How much coal did Coal India hold at pitheads in early September?
About 76 million tonnes.
What was India's record peak power demand?
270.70 GW, set in May 2026.
What are the CEA's September stock norms?
12 days for pithead plants and 20 days for non-pithead plants.
Why are plants short of coal despite large production?
Demand spikes, rain-hit mining and transport, lower hydropower and limited battery storage.
Which body sets coal stock norms for thermal plants?
The Central Electricity Authority.

Prelims practice question

Which body sets norms for coal stock levels at thermal power plants in India?

  1. Coal India Limited
  2. Central Electricity Authority
  3. NITI Aayog
  4. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
Show answer

Answer: (b) Central Electricity Authority. The Central Electricity Authority prescribes stock norms and monitors plant stocks.

Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions

Recurring theme: Energy security and India's dependence on coal

  1. 2026 · GS3 · 15 marksAnswers it directlyUse it in the example

    Explain the key challenges for India's energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy security along with economic growth and sustainability?

    How to use this

    Shows a current energy security challenge: fuel supply and logistics bottlenecks for coal plants during a demand spike, with short- and long-term fixes.

    • CEA data show 74 of 190 coal plants, nearly 40%, had critically low stocks on 19 September, up from 45 at end-August; 'critical' means below 25% of the norm.
    • Causes: peak demand near the record 270.70 GW set in May, rain-hit mining and transport, lower hydropower, and too little battery storage to shift solar power to evenings.
    • Response: daily inter-ministerial monitoring and coal rakes raised to 444 on 6 September from 370; also suggest freight corridors, discom reforms and storage-backed renewables.
  2. 2025 · GS3 · 10 marksCovers one partUse it in the introduction

    How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour?

    How to use this

    Use the coal shortage to open the case for clean-technology independence, especially storage; it has nothing on biotechnology.

    • Nearly 40% of monitored coal plants (74 of 190) had critically low stocks on 19 September as heat pushed demand near the 270.70 GW record.
    • India has too little battery storage to shift daytime solar power to the evening, which kept coal demand high.
    • Argue that energy security needs reliable coal now and faster expansion of storage-backed renewables to reduce dependence.
  3. 2021 · GS1 · 10 marksCovers one partUse it in the example

    Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss.

    How to use this

    Shows that India's mineral wealth is held back by extraction and evacuation bottlenecks, using coal as the example.

    • India produces over a billion tonnes of coal a year and Coal India held about 76 million tonnes at pitheads in early September, yet 74 plants ran critically low.
    • Cite limited rail rakes and congested routes between mines in the east and plants in the north and west.
    • Monsoon rains flood mines and slow output, and discom dues to generators and of generators to Coal India limit purchases.
  4. 2017 · GS1 · 10 marksCovers one partUse it in the example

    'In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.' Discuss.

    How to use this

    Shows how dependent India's power supply remains on coal, supporting the 'inevitable for now' side of the argument.

    • The CEA monitors 190 coal-based power plants; 74 had critically low stocks on 19 September as peak demand stayed near 270.70 GW.
    • Lower reservoir levels cut hydropower and battery storage is too limited to shift solar power to evenings, so coal fills the gap.
    • Argue that energy security needs reliable coal supply in the short term and a faster clean transition in the long term.

Mains practice question

India faces recurring coal shortages at power plants despite large reserves. Analyse the causes and suggest solutions. (150 words)

Model answer

India has among the world's largest coal reserves, yet plants periodically run short of stock.

Causes

  • Logistics: limited rail rakes and congested routes between mines in the east and plants in the north and west.
  • Demand spikes: heatwaves and weak hydro or wind output push up coal demand suddenly.
  • Finances: discom dues to generators and of generators to Coal India limit purchases.
  • Seasonality: monsoon rains flood mines and slow output.
  • Import costs: high global prices discourage imported coal blending.

Solutions

  • Dedicated freight corridors and more rail capacity.
  • Pithead plants and coal washeries.
  • Discom reforms to clear dues.
  • Faster expansion of storage-backed renewables to reduce dependence.

Energy security needs both reliable coal supply in the short term and a faster clean transition in the long term.

The basics

Why this matters

Coal still generates most of India's electricity. In September 2026, nearly 40% of monitored coal plants were critically low on fuel even though India produces over a billion tonnes a year. The gap shows that energy security depends on logistics and planning, not just reserves.

74 of 190
Coal plants with critically low stocks on 19 September 2026
Central Electricity Authority data.

What 'critical' means

The Central Electricity Authority sets stock norms. A plant is critical when its stock falls below 25% of the norm.

September stock norms
Pithead plants
  • 12 days of stock
  • Close to mines
vs
Non-pithead plants
  • 20 days of stock
  • Coal travels by rail

Why coal ran short

Several pressures hit at once.

Causes of the shortfall
  1. 1High demandEl Niño heat; peak near 270.70 GW
  2. 2RainDisrupted mining and transport
  3. 3Low hydropowerReservoirs below normal
  4. 4Little storageSolar cannot cover evening peaks

How the trend moved

The number of critical plants rose through September.

Plants with critical coal stocks
End of August
45
4 September
57
9 September
59
19 September
74
Out of about 190 monitored plants.

What would help

More rail capacity, including Dedicated Freight Corridors, and much more Energy storage to shift solar power to evenings, are part of India's Energy transition.

You now know

  • 74 of 190 plants had critical coal stocks on 19 September 2026.
  • Critical means below 25% of the normative stock.
  • The causes were demand, rain, low hydropower and limited storage, not a lack of reserves.
  • CEA norms for September: 12 days (pithead) and 20 days (non-pithead).

Go deeper

In one line: Nearly 40% of India's coal power plants are running critically low on coal, not because coal has run out but because demand, weather and logistics have outpaced supply.

Why it matters for UPSC

GS3 asks about energy security and infrastructure. Coal still generates most of India's electricity, so shortages show where the system is weak.

The core idea

India has plenty of coal at the mines. The problem is getting it to plants fast enough when demand jumps. This year, El Niño-driven heat pushed demand near record levels, rains slowed mining and transport, low reservoirs cut hydropower, and there is not enough battery storage to carry daytime solar power into the evening. Plants far from mines are hit hardest because coal must travel by rail. The fix combines more rail capacity, pithead power plants and faster growth in storage-backed renewables.

Numbers and dates to remember

  • 74 of 190 plants critical (19 September 2026).
  • 76 million tonnes at Coal India pitheads.
  • 270.70 GW: record peak demand.
  • 12 and 20 days: September stock norms.

Where to go next

In one line: India's coal problem is a flow problem: getting the right amount of coal to the right plants at peak times.

The evening peak

Solar meets daytime demand, but after sunset demand stays high while solar drops. Without Energy storage, coal plants must ramp up, draining stocks.

Logistics

Coal moves mostly by rail. Rakes were increased from 370 to 444 a day in early September. Dedicated Freight Corridors can free capacity on mixed-use lines.

Regulation

The Central Electricity Authority sets stocking norms; an inter-ministerial group monitors critical plants daily.

Longer term

The Energy transition aims for 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, but coal will remain important for years, so reliable supply chains still matter.

Where to go next

Central Electricity Authority

Who monitors plant stocks

In one line: The Central Electricity Authority is a statutory body under the Electricity Act, 2003 that advises the government on power sector planning.

Functions

National electricity planning, technical standards, grid standards and data collection, including daily coal stock reports.

Coal norms

It sets how many days of coal stock plants must hold, varying by distance from mines and season.

Ministry

It functions under the Ministry of Power.

Where to go next

Central Electricity Authority: every story that connects to it (2)

Energy storage

Making solar work after sunset

In one line: Energy storage saves electricity when supply is high and releases it when demand is high.

Types

Battery energy storage systems, pumped storage hydropower, and emerging options like green hydrogen.

Why India needs it

Solar generation peaks at midday, while demand peaks in the evening; storage bridges the gap.

Policy

Viability gap funding for battery storage and guidelines to promote pumped storage.

Where to go next

Dedicated Freight Corridors

Moving coal faster

In one line: Dedicated Freight Corridors are railway lines built only for goods trains.

The two main corridors

The Eastern corridor (Ludhiana to Sonnagar), which carries coal and other bulk goods, and the Western corridor (Dadri to the JNPT port).

Benefits

Faster, heavier freight trains and more room on passenger lines.

Relevance to coal

Faster coal movement to power plants in northern India.

Where to go next

Energy transition

India's path away from coal

In one line: India's energy transition is the shift from fossil fuels to cleaner sources while meeting rising demand.

Targets

500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070.

Progress

Non-fossil sources crossed half of installed capacity in 2025.

Challenges

Storage, grid integration, financing and the livelihoods of coal-dependent regions.

Where to go next

Take the 22 September 2026 quiz: 30 Prelims-style questions with answers

Syllabus

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