Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Coking coal is a key raw material for steel production.
2.India is heavily dependent on imports of coking coal.
3.Coking coal is included in the list of critical minerals.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: A
Notes:
Explanation –
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Coking coal is essential for producing coke, which is used in blast furnaces for steelmaking. It constitutes about 42% of the cost of steel production. India imports approximately 85% of its coking coal needs, making it highly import-dependent despite having significant domestic reserves.
Statement 3 is incorrect. While the European Union has declared coking coal a critical raw material, it has not yet been included in India’s list of critical minerals. NITI Aayog has recommended its inclusion to enhance domestic production and reduce import dependency.
Source: The Hindu
