NEW DELHI: With demand for imported coking coal—an essential input for the steel industry—continuing to rise despite large domestic reserves, the govt on Thursday notified coking coal as a “critical and strategic mineral” to accelerate exploration and mining activities, including those involving deep-seated deposits.The decision was made on the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Implementation of Viksit Bharat Goals and policy inputs from NITI Aayog, which recognised the strategic role of coking coal in ensuring mineral security and meeting the needs of domestic steel sector.Officials said India has an estimated 37.4 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, largely located in Jharkhand, with Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh also having deposits.Despite this domestic availability, imports of coking coal increased from 51.2 million tonnes in 2020–21 to 57.6 million tonnes in 2024–25, meeting about 95% of the steel sector’s requirements.To address this continued dependence on imports, coal (including coking coal) has been included in Part D of the First Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which lists critical and strategic minerals. The mining of critical minerals is exempt from public consultation requirements and allows the use of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation—measures expected to encourage greater private sector participation.The reform is expected to reduce import dependence, strengthen supply-chain resilience for steel sector and support the objectives of National Steel Policy. It is also likely to promote private investment in exploration and beneficiation, encourage the adoption of advanced mining technologies and generate employment across the mining, logistics and steel value chain.