News Update

The country's coal demand, which had remained weak earlier in the current financial year, is poised for a boost in the coming days on the back of a sharp turnaround in electricity consumption, an industry expert said.

Coal India Limited (CIL), the Maharatna PSU under the Government of India, has unveiled the draft operative modalities for its new “CoalSETU” auction window.

The Ministry of Coal has proposed revisions to the existing timelines under commercial and captive coal mining agreements as part of its push to accelerate coal mine operationalisation.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (act), as amended in 2025, introduced the concept of mineral exchanges. These are electronic trading platforms through which buyers and sellers transact and enter into contracts. Coal, a notified mineral under the act, is an early subject of this framework.

India has added 52,537 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation from all sources combined in the ongoing financial year until January 31, the Union Ministry of Power said.

India’s solar manufacturing industry is becoming a victim of its own success. A push to expand local production — encouraged by pandemic disruptions and strained relations with China — has resulted in a 13-fold jump in capacity since 2020, according to BloombergNEF, to nearly triple domestic demand.

The government on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that it was following timelines and safety measures on commissioning of nuclear plants in the country, and the third unit of the Kudankulam nuclear plant is likely to be completed by 2026 and the fourth by 2027.

The Indian Railways targets Rs 30,000 crore incremental revenue from new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) in the next three years. Speaking to journalists in New Delhi, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a new GCT policy will bring additional freight loading from automotive, cement, container, and salt among others.

India’s domestic cement consumption stands at around 290kg per person, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26 released by the Ministry of Finance. The survey highlights that India remains the world’s second-largest cement producer after China.

Indian Railways has reported a positive response to reforms intended to shift bulk cement movement from road to rail, with many cement companies approaching the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) for tank container services. The Ministry of Railways has promoted measures designed to make rail a more competitive option for bulk cement logistics. Trade sources have indicated improved commercial interest since the measures were introduced.

A total of 50 projects worth Rs 3,581 crore are being implemented under the government's key Sagarmala initiative, Parliament was informed. The ministry has approved financial assistance of Rs 1,532 crore for these 50 projects, against which Rs 1,143 crore have been released, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

India becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047, when it seeks to be a “Viksit Bharat”, will not come in the way of the country’s greenhouse-gas emission achieving net zero 23 years later, with the transition anchored in demand moderation, large-scale electrification, and financial and institutional reform, according to the NITI Aayog.