GS3PIB · Current Affairs
Coal imports by thermal power plants decline; government measures to reduce import dependence
Coal imported by thermal power plants fell sharply in FY 2025-26 after government actions to increase domestic supplies and manage import-linked supply rules.
SP
Samachar Pathshala Desk
Published 29 Jul 2026 · 1 min
Key takeaways
- ACQ is the contracted coal quantity for supply planning; increasing ACQ is meant to use more domestic coal.
- ICB plants can secure coal under the Revised SHAKTI Policy, 2025 to reduce dependence on imported coal.
- FSA holders can secure coal under the Revised SHAKTI Policy, 2025 after procuring 100% of ACQ under existing FSA.
- OGL allows consumers to import coal from chosen sources as per contractual prices.
What happened: thermal power plant coal imports fell in FY 2025-26
The Ministry of Coal reported a decline in coal imports by thermal power plants after government actions aimed at increasing domestic coal availability and reducing import dependence in the power sector. Reported figures are:
Coal imported by thermal power plants in FY 2025-26: 45.4 MTCoal imported by thermal power plants in FY 2024-25: 62.5 MTApproximate change: decline of around 27.4%
The UPSC angle
GS3GS3GS3
Energy security through supply-side rules and logistics capacity
UPSC can frame the issue around how thermal power fuel security depends on aligning coal contract quantities and supply mechanisms with transport and evacuation logistics to reduce import dependence.
