📌 Topic 02 of 6 · Chapter 07 · Minerals & Energy Resources
Coal & Lignite in India
Gondwana coalfields, Jharia, Raniganj, types of coal — complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
⛏️ Types of Coal (Quality Order)
| Type | Carbon % | Quality | Where in India |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthracite | 90%+ | Best quality; hardest | Rare in India; J&K (Jammu) |
| Bituminous | 60–80% | Most common; coking coal | Gondwana coalfields (Jharkhand, WB, MP, Odisha) |
| Lignite (Brown Coal) | 40–55% | Lowest quality; soft | Tamil Nadu (Neyveli), Rajasthan |
| Peat | <40% | Lowest; not commercial | Not commercially used |
⛏️ Major Coalfields of India
| Coalfield | State | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Jharia | Jharkhand | Largest coalfield in India; best coking coal; Damodar Valley |
| Raniganj | West Bengal | Oldest coalfield in India (1774); Damodar Valley |
| Bokaro | Jharkhand | Damodar Valley; near Bokaro Steel Plant |
| Singrauli | MP/UP border | Largest coal reserve in India; “Energy Capital of India” |
| Talcher | Odisha | Largest coalfield in Odisha; Mahanadi coalfields |
| Korba | Chhattisgarh | Major coalfield; Korba thermal power station |
| Neyveli | Tamil Nadu | Lignite (brown coal); Neyveli Lignite Corporation |
⭐ Key Facts — Coal:
• India = 2nd largest coal producer in world (after China)
• Gondwana coalfields = 98% of India’s coal reserves
• Jharia (Jharkhand) = largest coalfield in India
• Raniganj (WB) = oldest coalfield in India (1774)
• Damodar Valley = highest concentration of coalfields
• Neyveli (TN) = largest lignite deposit in India
• India = 2nd largest coal producer in world (after China)
• Gondwana coalfields = 98% of India’s coal reserves
• Jharia (Jharkhand) = largest coalfield in India
• Raniganj (WB) = oldest coalfield in India (1774)
• Damodar Valley = highest concentration of coalfields
• Neyveli (TN) = largest lignite deposit in India