Coal import mandate extended until June in India

11 Mar 2024 CW Team

India has prolonged the directive requiring its power producers to import 6% of their coal necessities until June 2024, despite having sufficient domestic availability, citing transportation limitations and heightened electricity demands, according to a statement from the power ministry released on 5th March.

In 2023, India instructed utilities to import 6% of their coal needs until March 2024 due to an unprecedented surge in power and coal demand. Despite considerable output by state-run Coal India, which contributes roughly 80% of India's domestic coal production, transportation constraints within the country's railway network necessitated imports, the statement noted. The ministry projected peak power demand to potentially reach 250 GW during the summer months (April-June 2024), marking a 3% increase compared to the record of 243 GW set in September 2023. Coal remains the cornerstone of India's power generation, constituting about 75% of the total, with coal-fired plants responsible for more than three-quarters of the nation's utilisation of this pollutant energy source.

Infrastructure Urban

13 Mar 2026

Implementation Status of Jal Jeevan Mission

Since August 2019 the Government has implemented Jal Jeevan Mission to provide assured potable water through household tap connections in rural India. At the start of the mission only 32.3 million (mn) rural households, representing 16.7 per cent, were reported to have tap water connections. States and union territories have reported that 125.8 mn additional rural households have since been provided with tap connections. As a result, of about 193.6 mn rural households roughly 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water supply at home.\n\nThe State, district and village level st..

Jal Jeevan Mission Reaches Eighty One Per Cent Rural Coverage

The Government reported substantial progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in August 2019 to provide tap water to every rural household. At launch only 32.3 million (mn) rural households had tap connections and states and Union territories reported provision of 125.8 mn additional households by March 2026. Consequently, out of about 193.6 mn rural households around 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water at home. The Finance Minister announced extension of the mission until 2028 in the 2025-26 budget speech. The Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen, launched in October 20..

Empowering Local Governance for Sustainable Rural Water Supply

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has aligned the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) with the 73rd Amendment to strengthen village level planning and community ownership of water supply. Gram Panchayats, village water and sanitation committees and Pani Samitis are to plan, implement, manage and maintain piped water systems, with gram sabha processes formalising handover and oversight. Implementation support agencies including non government organisations, community based organisations and self help groups have been empanelled to train local committees and promote women participation. Under JJM, the department ..