The Indian government is taking significant steps to meet the rising demand for coal through indigenous production. The actual coal demand in the country increased to 1233.86 million tonnes (MT) in 2023-24 from 1115.04 MT in 2022-23. Domestic coal production rose by 11.65%, reaching 997.26 MT in 2023-24, up from 893.19 MT in 2022-23. To further boost coal production and reduce non-essential imports, India aims for a 6-7% annual growth in domestic coal production, targeting about 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30. This growth strategy aligns with the government's broader goal of energy self-reliance. Enhancing Coking Coal Supply With a decline in the performance of Coal India Limited's washeries and the increased demand for washed coking coal in the steel sector, the government has approved the creation of a new sub-sector under the Non-Regulated Sector linkage auctions.