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.
State's pollution control authorities have slapped Rs 10 lakh fine as bank guarantee against a multinational oil & natural gas giant operating here for 20 years for causing extensive contamination of the Kunur rivulet, the prime source of irrigation for dozens of villages in Kanksa and Laudoha blocks here.
In the first seven months of FY 2024-25, April-October, coal imports decreased by 3.1 per cent, totaling 149.39 million tonnes (MT) compared to 154.17 MT during the same period in the previous year.
Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate seized two illegal coal loaded trucks in Chowringhee police outpost area on national highway-19 at Jharkhand – Bengal border and seized about 50 tonnes of coal.
Additionally, the Non-Regulated Sector (other than power) witnessed a more significant drop of 8.8 per cent, during April-October 2024 as compared to the same period of last year.
Building on the success of previous rounds, the Ministry continues its efforts to unlock India's vast coal reserves and enhance energy security, the statement said.
