India's coal ministry will speed up project approvals in the mining sector as part of a broader goal to boost domestic output and cut imports, it said on 1 July.

The federal coal ministry will unveil a new Exploration Module feature embedded within its single-window clearance system (SWCS) on 4 July to enable submission of digital project proposals for the operationalisation of coal mines in India.

The added feature enables a faster process for submission and approvals for coal explorations and mining projects in the world's second-largest coal importing nation, as part of efforts to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.

India's combined coal output hit an all-time high of 1.04bn t in 2024, up by 7pc or 70.4mn t from a year earlier.

India's state-controlled coal producer Coal India (CIL) has set an output target of 863mn t in 2025-26. Delhi has been pushing CIL to ramp up its output, while also seeking higher production from blocks allocated to utilities and the non-power sector.

The federal coal ministry allocated its 200th coal mine in the Marwatola–II coal block in June, as the country looks to meet the energy-hungry consumer and industrial sectors.

By Haridas