Question

Which state in India is estimated to have the largest coal reserves in India?
A) Odisha
B) Andhra Pradesh
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Jharkhand

Answer 1

Hint: Coal reserves refer to huge deposits of coal which, based on geological surveys and engineering studies, are thought to exist to an extremely high level of certainty. These reserves are also readily accessible and coal can be produced from them economically. Coal is the most broad and most abundant fossil fuels.

Complete answer:
One approach to determine the size of reserves is known as the reserves/production ratio or R/P. This number represents the number of years that the reserves would last if production and its use were continued at the current rate.

Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) Odisha: This option is incorrect as Jharkhand has the largest Coal reserves in India with 83.15 billion tonnes. Whereas Odisha only contains a fifth of India's coal, a quarter of its iron ore, a third of its bauxite reserves and most of the chromite. Hence, the given option is wrong.
Option B) Andhra Pradesh: This option is incorrect as Jharkhand has the largest Coal reserves in India with 83.15 billion tonnes. Whereas Andhra Pradesh is listed at the top in the deposit and production of mica in India. Hence, the given option is wrong.
Option C) Madhya Pradesh: This option is incorrect as Jharkhand has the largest Coal reserves in India with 83.15 billion tonnes. Whereas Madhya Pradesh has the largest reserves of diamond and copper in India. Hence, the given option is wrong.
Option D) Jharkhand: This option is correct as Jharkhand has the largest Coal reserves in India with 83.15 billion tonnes. It is located in north- east India and produces more than 26% of the total production. The main coal mining centres of the state are Jharia, Bokaro, Auranga, Giridh, Dhanbad, Ramgarh, Karanpur and Hutar. Hence, the given option is the right answer.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note: Coal in India has been mined since 1774 and is now the second quickest mined in the world, producing 716 million metric tons (789 million short tons) in 2018. Dhanbad city is the biggest coal producing city and is called the Coal Capital of India. State-owned Coal India had an exclusive restraining right on coal mining between its nationalization in 1973 and 2018. Coal-fired power plants have been criticized for breaking ecological laws, and phasing out coal would have short-term health and environmental benefits greatly exceeding the costs. Coal deposits are mostly found in eastern and south-central India. Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra represent 98.09% of the total known coal reserves in India.