UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Achieves 1 Billion Tonne Coal Production Milestone Again, Strengthening Energy Security of the Country
Q1. After the 2014 Supreme Court cancellation of coal block allocations, the auctioning of coal mines to private companies and their allotment to public sector undertakings was enabled solely under which one of the following enactments?
- A. Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015
- B. Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973
- C. Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
- D. Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020
Q2. Consider the following statements about the principal statutes governing India's coal sector:
1. The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act was enacted in 1973.
2. The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act was notified in 2015.
3. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act dates from 1957.
4. The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act was passed in 2018.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act was enacted in 1973.
- The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act was notified in 2015.
- The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act dates from 1957.
- The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act was passed in 2018.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q3. In which year was Coal India Limited (CIL) conferred 'Maharatna' status by the Government of India?
- A. 2011
- B. 2008
- C. 2010
- D. 2014
Q4. The 'Maharatna' status held by Coal India Limited most precisely refers to which one of the following?
- A. A category of Central Public Sector Enterprises granted enhanced financial and operational autonomy
- B. A tax-exemption category granted to large mineral-producing companies
- C. A listing tier on Indian stock exchanges reserved for state-owned firms
- D. A sovereign credit-rating grade assigned to government undertakings
Q5. The Union Cabinet's approval of commercial coal mining, permitting sale of coal by private players for the first time, came exclusively in which year?
- A. 2018
- B. 2014
- C. 2015
- D. 2020
Q6. Which Union Ministry is the nodal ministry responsible for conducting commercial coal mine auctions in India?
- A. Ministry of Coal
- B. Ministry of Mines
- C. Ministry of Power
- D. NITI Aayog
Q7. Consider the following statements regarding India's 1 billion tonne coal production milestone:
1. India crossed 1 billion tonne coal production on 20 March 2026.
2. FY 2025-26 marked the second consecutive year of reaching the 1 billion tonne mark.
3. The milestone enabled record coal stocks at coal-based thermal power plants.
4. All-India coal output in FY 2024-25 was 997.83 million tonnes.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- India crossed 1 billion tonne coal production on 20 March 2026.
- FY 2025-26 marked the second consecutive year of reaching the 1 billion tonne mark.
- The milestone enabled record coal stocks at coal-based thermal power plants.
- All-India coal output in FY 2024-25 was 997.83 million tonnes.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 3 only
- D. 4 only
Q8. Consider the following statements comparing India's coal output across recent fiscal years:
1. All-India coal production in FY 2024-25 was about 1047.67 million tonnes.
2. This represented a growth of roughly 4.99% over the previous fiscal.
3. Coal output in FY 2023-24 stood at about 997.83 million tonnes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- All-India coal production in FY 2024-25 was about 1047.67 million tonnes.
- This represented a growth of roughly 4.99% over the previous fiscal.
- Coal output in FY 2023-24 stood at about 997.83 million tonnes.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. To strengthen domestic energy security and reduce import dependence, the national coal production target set for FY 2026-27 is approximately how many billion tonnes?
- A. 1.3 billion tonnes
- B. 1.0 billion tonnes
- C. 1.5 billion tonnes
- D. 2.0 billion tonnes
Q10. Which public sector undertaking is targeted to single-handedly produce 1 billion tonnes of coal by FY 2026-27 to bolster the country's energy security?
- A. Coal India Limited
- B. Singareni Collieries Company Limited
- C. NLC India Limited
- D. NTPC Limited
Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the classification and use of coal in India:
1. Coking coal is used primarily in steel-making and blast furnaces.
2. Thermal (steam) coal is used mainly for electricity generation.
3. Coking coal forms coke when heated in the absence of air.
4. More than 90% of India's coking coal is sourced from Odisha.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Coking coal is used primarily in steel-making and blast furnaces.
- Thermal (steam) coal is used mainly for electricity generation.
- Coking coal forms coke when heated in the absence of air.
- More than 90% of India's coking coal is sourced from Odisha.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 4 only
Q12. Consider the following statements about the Supreme Court's 2014 coal block verdict:
1. In September 2014, the Court cancelled 204 of 218 coal block allocations.
2. The cancelled allocations were those made since 1993.
3. The Court upheld the allocations, finding the Screening Committee process to be transparent and objective.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- In September 2014, the Court cancelled 204 of 218 coal block allocations.
- The cancelled allocations were those made since 1993.
- The Court upheld the allocations, finding the Screening Committee process to be transparent and objective.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3