Here is Question No. 48 a part of our series on UPSC Prelims 2019
Q48. Consider the following statements:
- The coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi.
- Now, coal blocks are allocated on a lottery basis.
- Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now India itself is insufficient in coal production.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
- Statement 1 is correct: The coal sector was nationalized in two phases under Indira Gandhi Government in 1972. The CoalMines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 was enacted during the Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi.
- Statement 2 is not correct: Presently, coal blocks are allocated through auctions and not on a lottery basis.
- Statement 3 is not correct: The coal sector is the monopolistic sector in India. India holds 5th biggest coal reserves in the world but due to incapacity of coal production by monopolistic firms, it imports coals to meet the shortages of domestic supply. But still the country is not self-sufficient in coal production.
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