Coal Industry in India – A retrospect, Nationalisation of Coal Mines

Q1.Who initiated first commercial coal mining in India ?
Ans.Warren Hastings at Raniganj (W.B.) in 1774.
Q2.Who opened first Coal Mines in India and when ?
Ans.Jhan Summer and Hitler of East India at Raniganj Coalfields on 11/08/1774.
Q3.When was first underground Coal Mining started in India ?
Ans.1815
Q4.Who was the first Indian entrepreneur in Coal Mining in India?
Ans.Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, relative of Rabindranath Tagore, CARR, Tagore & Co. in 1835
Q5.Which period was the first boom year of Indian Coal Industry & Why ?
Ans 1907 & 1908 due to growth of JCF (Jharia Coalfields & completion of Grand Chord Line of East India
Railway).
Q6.When was first underground Coal Mining started in India ?
Ans.1815
Q7.What was coal Production of India in 1942 & 1946?
Ans.29 MT and 30 MT respectively.
Q8. Write about NATIONALISATION OF INDIAN COAL MINES :
Non Coking Coal Mines were nationalized in 31st Jan.1973 (effective from 01.05.1973) except captive
mines of TISCO & IISCO. Accordingly, Coal Mines Authority Limited was established with HQr. at
Kolkata. NCDC Mines also came in the ambit of CMAL. This was done by virtue of Coal Mines (taking
over of Management ) Act, 1973 and Coal Mines Nationalization Act, 1973. This Act gives eligibility of Coal Mining in India. Nationalisation was done to meet the growing energy demand of the company, to conserve coal and to promote safety and welfare of the employees.
Q9.When was Coal India Limited Formed ?
Ans. In 1975 CIL was formed as holding company with 5 subsidiaries (BCCL, CCL, WCL, ECL & CMPDIL.
Q10.When was SECL and NCL formed ?
Ans .In 1985 NCL and SECLwere carved out of CCL & WCL respectively.
Q11.When was MCL formed?
Ans..In 1992, MCL was carved out of SECL to manage Talcher & IB Valley coalfields.
Q-12. After the formation of CMAL, NCDC Mines were kept under which zone of CMAL?
Ans. Central Zone
Q13.What is NCDC? When was it setup and why ?
Ans.National Coal Development Corporation Ltd.(NCDC) was the first Govt. of India Undertaking Coal
Company. It was set up in 1956 with 11 Railway owned coal mines for planned development of Coal
Industry.
Q14.What was coal production at the beginning of Ist 5 Year Plan (1951-56) ?
Ans. 33 Mt.
Q15.What was coal production at the end of 2nd. 5 year Plan (1956-61) & 3rd. 5 year Plan (1961-66) ?
Ans.Total : 55.6 MT, NCDC 8.05 MT (1956-56) and Total : 67.72 MT, NCDC : 9.6 MT (1961-66).
Q16.What role did NCDC play in Indian Coal Industry ?
Ans.NCDC Played pioneering role in Indian Coal Industry by way of introduction of
a.Large Scale Mechanisation b. Use of Modern Scientific Technique.
c. Conservation of Coal d. Foreign Collaboration with Poland & USSR.
e. Opening new Mines in MP, Orissan & Maharasthra
Q17.When was Coal Industry nationalised and why ?
Ans During IVth 5 Yr. Plan (1969-74) Coal Industry was nationalised in 2 phases :-
a.) Management of Coking Coal Mines was taken over by Govt. of India on 17th Oct. 1971 &nationalisation was effective from 5th January, 1972. Bharat Coking Coal Limited was formed by virtue of Coking Coal Mines (Emergency provisions at 1971 and Coking Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act 1972. This Act gives eligibility of Coal Mining in India.