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.
Ministry of Coal said on Tuesday that the country’s cumulative coal production for the financial year 2024-25, as of Aug 25 has shot up by 7.12 per cent to 370.67 million tonnes compared to 346.02 million tonnes (MT) during the same period in FY 2023-24.
To assess the safety status of coal companies, Secretary, the Ministry of Coal, Amrit Lal Meena has reviewed the ongoing development of the National Coal Mines Safety Report Portal as part of the Zero Accident Goal fixed for the sector, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.
This notable decrease indicates sufficient availability of coal in market to meet the growing demands, the ministry of coal said.
The main reason for failing to frame the charges today, in connection with the coal loot case by CBI, was due to absence of one of the accused Shamsher Hussein.
Ministry of Coal said on Tuesday that it is actively working to ensure the proper disposal and repurposing of fly ash generated by thermal power plants in a significant move towards environmental protection and resource utilisation.
