India Declares Coking Coal Critical Mineral to Boost Domestic Steel, Cut Imports

• India has designated coking coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the MMDR Act, 1957, following recommendations from the High-Level Committee on Viksit Bharat Goals and NITI Aayog.
• Despite 37.37 billion tonnes of domestic resources, India imports nearly 95% of its coking coal, with imports rising from 51.20 MT in FY21 to 57.58 MT in FY25, leading to significant foreign exchange outflow.
• The reclassification aims to reduce import dependence, enhance mineral security for the steel industry, and support the National Steel Policy objectives.
• Amendments to the MMDR Act's First Schedule (Section 11C) will facilitate faster approvals, improve ease of doing business, and accelerate exploration and mining, including deep-seated deposits.
• Exemptions from public consultation and use of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation are expected to attract private sector investment in exploration, beneficiation, and advanced mining technologies.

Why It Matters: India's reclassification of coking coal as a critical mineral aims to reduce import dependence and strengthen the steel sector.