Some recent media reports flag growing risk of Power shortages in India as coal inventories at power plants fall to low levels. In this context, the Ministry of Coal would like to clarify the following.
Key developments
The "critical stock" tag is a norm-based trigger (plants holding less than the prescribed threshold of normative stock) and is designed to flag plants early, well before actual fuel shortage or generation loss occurs. A plant appearing on this list is, by design, an early-warning entry and not an indication that it has run out of coal or is at imminent risk of shutting down.
Coal stock position needs to be viewed alongside the improvement since the September trough in supplies. Daily supplies to the power sector have risen by around 36% from the September low, with October averaging about 9% higher than September. The rate of stock depletion has also moderated significantly (Figure 1). Rail loading has strengthened correspondingly, averaging over 465 rakes per day in October, with the 470-rake target achieved on three consecutive days (Figure 2). Supplies through other modes, including road, have also improved.
Figure 1: Depletion/Accretion in DCB Plants (MT)
Background and details
Figure 2: Total rake loading trend, October 2026
Stock depletion has slowed sharply, with the daily drawdown falling by more than half from 0.243 MT/day in September to 0.116 MT/day in October. The position is therefore stabilising, although stock rebuilding is yet to commence.
The rise in plants with critical stocks is being closely monitored, with requirement-based redistribution of coal to vulnerable stations to ensure adequate supplies and uninterrupted power generation. With the monsoon receding and peak demand expected to moderate by mid-October (as per historical trends) sustained loading of 465–475 rakes per day should support further stabilisation and enable stock rebuilding ahead of the festive, winter and subsequent summer demand periods, thereby reducing the number of plants in the critical category.
The Ministry of Coal, in close coordination with the Ministries of Railways and Ministry of Power, is actively monitoring supplies and logistics to ensure that coal availability does not constrain power generation anywhere in the country.
Exam revision: key facts
Recall the answer first, then expand it to check the evidence from this article.
What is the main development reported?
Some recent media reports flag growing risk of Power shortages in India as coal inventories at power plants fall to low levels. In this context, the Ministry of Coal would like to clarify the following.
Which dates or figures are stated in context?
Coal stock position needs to be viewed alongside the improvement since the September trough in supplies. Daily supplies to the power sector have risen by around 36% from the September low, with October averaging about 9% higher than September. The rate of stock depletion has also moderated significantly (Figure 1). Rail loading has strengthened correspondingly, averaging over 465 rakes per day in October, with the 470-rake target achieved on three consecutive days (Figure 2). Supplies through other modes, including road, have also improved.