Coal

In the news

• Global Carbon Budget 2026: world fossil CO2 to dip 0.4%, but India's to rise 4.4% 13 November 2026 · Indian Express

  The world's fossil emissions may finally dip. Why is India's set to jump faster than in a decade?

• Centre orders 112 captive coal plants to run at full capacity till December 27 September 2026 · The Hindu

  When can the government tell a factory's own power plant how much electricity to make?

• Nearly 40% of coal power plants are critically low on fuel 22 September 2026 · The Hindu

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

Key facts

• The Global Carbon Budget 2026 projects global fossil CO2 emissions to fall about 0.4% in 2026 to about 38.2 Gt, led by a 1.9% fall in oil. (13 November 2026)
• India's fossil CO2 emissions are projected to rise 4.4%, with coal up 5.9%; China, the US and the EU are projected to fall. (13 November 2026)
• Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 allows the appropriate Government to direct a generating company, in extraordinary circumstances, to operate and maintain a generating station in accordance with its directions. (27 September 2026)
• Under the Electricity Act, 2003, a person may construct, maintain or operate a captive generating plant without a licence. (27 September 2026)
• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) sets coal stock norms for thermal plants and publishes daily stock data. (22 September 2026)
• A plant is classified as 'critical' when its coal stock is below 25% of the normative requirement. (22 September 2026)

Previous-year questions

1. 2026 · GS3 · 15 marks Explain the key challenges for India's energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy security along with economic growth and sustainability?
2. 2025 · GS3 · 10 marks How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour?
3. 2022 · GS2 · 15 marks 'Clean energy is the order of the day.' Describe briefly India's changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics.
4. 2022 · GS3 · 15 marks Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain.
5. 2021 · GS1 · 10 marks 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.
6. 2017 · GS3 · 15 marks 'Climate Change' is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?
7. 2017 · GS1 · 10 marks 'In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.' Discuss.
8. 2015 · GS3 · 12.5 marks To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment cost and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for thermal power producers and related industry?
9. 2016 · Prelims With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in…