India's coking coal import bill down 39% in three years helped by Russian discounts, low-price global cycle
Distilled Policy Brief
- India's coking coal import bill has decreased by 39% over the past three years, resulting in a significant reduction in the country's import expenditure from $19.2 billion in fiscal 2023 to $11.76 billion in FY26.
- This decline in import expenditure can be attributed to India's shift in importing coking coal from Australia to Russia and the US, with the value of imports from Australia decreasing from $10.63 billion in FY23 to $5.1 billion in FY26.
- The import diversification was facilitated by Russia offering discounts on its coking coal exports, starting in fiscal 2023, following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the bilateral research and industrial cooperation engagements between India and Germany, consider the following statements: 1. Roundtables held with German research organizations, such as the Fraunhofer Institutes, prioritized key fields including microelectronics, power electronics, and smart manufacturing. 2. Expanding industry-academia innovation networks and collaboration in battery technologies form key components of the enhanced strategic cooperation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Both statements are correct. High-level roundtables with German research institutes, including Fraunhofer Institutes, focused on microelectronics, power electronics, smart manufacturing, battery technologies, and logistics. Furthermore, the engagement emphasized strengthening industry-academia innovation networks, science and technology cooperation, and advanced manufacturing capabilities between India and Germany.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.