Invisible inputs, visible risks
Empires were once forged in iron and fuelled by coal; today, they may fracture over elements most people cannot spell.
Empires were once forged in iron and fuelled by coal; today, they may fracture over elements most people cannot spell.
India’s core industrial activity contracted in March 2026, with the combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) falling 0.4 per cent year-on-year compared to March 2025. This marked the weakest performance in nearly two years.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its aftermath have led to a shortage of cooking gas in India. Alongside rising prices of both household and commercial LPG, bookings are now being accepted only after a 25-day gap.
After coal, sand and stone, a fresh case of illegal soil excavation and trade has surfaced in West Burdwan district following a complaint filed over the unauthorised extraction of soil and its use in brick kilns.
On a cumulative basis, the core sector expanded by 2.6 per cent during April to December 2025-26 compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting moderate overall growth amid mixed sectoral trends.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed India’s historic achievement of 1 billion tonnes coal production, highlighting significant commitment to energy security, economic growth and self-reliance.
With India's coal production crossing 1 billion tonnes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the feat as a "proud moment" and a "historic milestone" for the nation.
The reduction in coal imports resulted in foreign exchange savings of approximately $5.43 billion (Rs 42,315.7 crore) for the country, the Coal Ministry said.
The import of Coal from April to December 2024 fell by 8.4 per cent, totalling 183.42 million tonnes (MT), according to the Coal Ministry statement on Tuesday. This is a fall as compared to 200.19 MT in the same period of the previous fiscal.
Total coal production during January 2025 spiked by 4.38 per cent to 104.43 MT from 100.05 MT, recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year, the Coal ministry said on Monday.
