Consider the following statements : 1. Coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi. 2. Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery basis. 3. Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now India is self-sufficient in coal production. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (a)
• Statement 1 is correct: coking coal mines were nationalised in 1971–72 and non-coking mines in 1973 under Indira Gandhi's government, leading to Coal India Ltd (1975).
• Statement 2 is wrong: after the Supreme Court cancelled 204 block allocations in 2014, blocks are allotted by transparent e-auction (Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015), not lottery.
• Statement 3 is wrong: India still imports over 200 million tonnes of coal a year, especially coking coal, and is not self-sufficient.
• Hence 1 only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statements 2 and 3 are wrong: blocks are auctioned and imports continue.
- (c) 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: India still imports coal.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statements 2 and 3 are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.