List of Coal Mines in India: State-wise List with PDF

India’s coal journey started way back in 1774 in a place called Raniganj. Now, most of the coal we have – like a whopping 98% of it- is found in these really old areas called Gondwana fields. Think of a list of coal mines in India, including places like Jharia in Jharkhand, which has a crazy amount of good quality coal, around 19 billion tonnes! Then there is another place like Talcher in Odisha, holding over 24,000 million tonnes of coal. And don’t forget Korba in Chhattisgarh, another major coal field. Overall, it feels like India is sitting on a mountain of coal and digs about one billion tonnes mine every year, becoming the fourth biggest coal producer in the world. So, knowing more about the list of Indian coal hotspots helps you understand where India gets its power from. Moreover, this blog will also increase your general knowledge about Indian Geography, especially if you are planning to appear for competitive and civil services exams in India.

List of Coal Mines in India

First and foremost, let’s note that the field of Indian coal mines is divided based on the following categories. It would serve as a basis for understanding the major coal mines in India with clarity: 

• Gondwana Coalfields: These coal deposits, formed around 250 million years ago, make up a massive 98% of all the coal India has and account for 99% of the coal that’s actually mined. This type of coal usually doesn’t have much water in it and contains phosphorus and sulfur. Even though it has less carbon than the much older Carboniferous coal (which you barely find in India), there’s so much of it that it’s the main type of coal we use.

• Tertiary Coal Fields: Tertiary coal deposits are much younger, formed between 15 and 60 million years ago. This type of coal has less carbon in it but contains a lot of moisture and sulfur. You mostly find these coalfields in the parts of India that aren’t the main peninsula.

Also Read – Countries should reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.

Major Coal Mines in India – States and Features

Now, let’s take a look at the important coal mining areas all over India based on their categories and point out what makes them special and where they are located.

Coal Mines in Gondwana Coalfields

States	Name of Coal Mine	Features/Prominence
Jharkhand	Jharia, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Jayanti, Godda, Giridih (Karbhari Coal Field), Ramgarh, Karanpura, Daltonganj	Dhanbad, one of the oldest and richest coalfields in India, is known as a storehouse of high-quality coking coal for metallurgical purposes. Giridih (Karbhari Coal Field) produces the finest coking coal in India for metallurgical applications.
West Bengal	Raniganj Coalfield, Dalingkot (Darjeeling), Birbhum, Chinakuri	Most coal reserves are located in the Godavari valley. Primarily, non-coking coal is explored. Workable collieries are situated at Kothagudem and Singareni. Singareni is considered one of the deepest coal mines in India.
Chhattisgarh	Korba, Bishrampur, Sonhat, Jhilmil, Hasdo-Arand	Major contributors to thermal power generation.
Odisha	Jharsuguda, Himgiri, Rampur, Talcher	Talcher – Ranks second in reserves after Raniganj. Most of its coal is suitable for steam and gas production and is utilized in thermal power plants at Talcher.
Telangana/Andhra Pradesh	Singareni, Kothagudem, Kantapalli	Most coal reserves are located in the Godavari valley. Primarily, non-coking coal is explored. Workable collieries are situated at Kothagudem and Singareni.
Madhya Pradesh	Singrauli, Sohagpur, Johila, Umaria, Satpura coalfield	Singareni is considered one of the deepest coal mines in India.
Maharashtra	Kamptee (Nagpur), Wun field, Wardha, Walarpur, Ghughus, and Warora	Important coal-producing regions in the state.

Coal Mines in Tertiary Coalfields

States	Name of Coal Mine	Features/Prominence
Tamil Nadu	Neyveli	A significant source of lignite.
Assam	Ledo, Makum, Najira, Janji, Jaipur	Assam coals are characterized by low ash and high coking qualities. They have a high sulfur content, making them suitable for metallurgical purposes and ideal for producing liquid fuels and hydrogenation processes. Makum is notable as one of the oldest operating coalfields.
Meghalaya	Darrangiri (Garo hills), Cherrapunji, Laitryngew, Maolong and Langrin coalfields (Khasi & Jaintia Hills)	Primarily, Tertiary coalfields.

Must Read: 

• Important Facts About Jharkhand
• Interesting Facts About Odisha You Must Know

Coal Mines in India – Sample General Knowledge Questions 

Coal plays a big role in powering India, so it’s no surprise that questions about coal mines often show up in competitive exams. You’ll usually be asked about where major coalfields are located, which states produce the most coal, and the companies involved in mining. Having a basic grasp of this topic can really help in the general awareness section of exams like SSC, UPSC, and Railways. To give you a head start, here are a few sample questions.

1. Which Indian state ranks highest in coal production?

A) Maharashtra
B) Jharkhand
C) Odisha
D) Chhattisgarh

2. Jharia, a major source of coking coal, is situated in which part of India?

A) West Bengal
B) Odisha
C) Jharkhand
D) Chhattisgarh

3. Which coal mine is considered the largest in Asia in terms of reserves?

A) Jharia Coalfield
B) Gevra Open Cast Mine
C) Raniganj Coalfield
D) Singrauli Coalfield

4. Which public sector company is the largest coal producer in India?

A) NTPC
B) Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL)
C) Coal India Limited (CIL)
D) Indian Oil Corporation

5. The Raniganj coalfield, one of the earliest coal mining areas in India, is located in which state?

A) Odisha
B) West Bengal
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Jharkhand

6. Which of the following coalfields is located in Odisha?

A) Korba
B) Talcher
C) Bokaro
D) Jharia

Answer Key  

1.	B) Jharkhand	Jharkhand has some of the largest coal reserves and hosts major coalfields like Jharia and Bokaro.
2.	C) Jharkhand	Jharia, in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand, is famous for its rich coking coal used in steel production.
3.	B) Gevra Open Cast Mine	Gevra in Chhattisgarh is one of the largest open-cast mines in Asia and is operated by South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL).
4.	C) Coal India Limited (CIL)	CIL, under the Ministry of Coal, accounts for the majority of coal production in India.
5.	B) West Bengal	Raniganj in West Bengal is one of the oldest and historically significant coalfields in India.
6.	B) Talcher	Talcher coalfield, located in Odisha, is a major source of thermal coal.

Do Check Out: 

• 31 Interesting Facts About India’s Geography for Students
• World Geography MCQs with Answers

To sum up. This list of coal mines in India shows us the important places where we get the fuel that provides power to our country as well. From the really old mines like the Gondwana coalfield that started it all to the newer ones producing most of our coal today, these major states play a really important role in our energy and economy. Knowing about these coalfields helps us understand where India gets its power and the history behind it. Even as we look towards new energy sources, these coal mining areas continue to play a big role in India’s development.

List of Coal Mines in India – PDF 

Last but not least, download the following list of coal mines in India along with their state and field category for practising later. 

FAQs

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