India's Coal Sector: A Decade of Transformation Under Modi's Leadership

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy highlights India's coal industry advancements, emphasizing reforms that made India the second-largest coal producer and consumer globally. Over 5 lakh people are directly employed in the coal sector, and around 25 lakh indirectly, aiding the seamless generation of electricity across the country without shortages.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy announced on Monday that nearly 5 lakh individuals have direct employment in India's coal sector, with an additional 25 lakh engaged indirectly. The minister celebrated the Coal Ministry's success, emphasizing that 50 lakh people are employed across the nation's mining industry.

Reddy credited the transformation to major reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership over the past 12 years, taking India to become the world's second-largest coal producer and consumer. He recalled the coal industry's past challenges of shortages and corruption, which once dominated the news.

Highlighting the sector's recovery, Reddy noted the establishment of Coal India as the largest coal producer globally, with Chhattisgarh hosting some of the world's largest coal mining blocks. With around 72-73 percent of India's power generated from coal-based plants, the country now experiences no power shortages, attributed to efficient reforms and increased coal production.