Page 5 - Pralhad Joshi

Pralhad Joshi, RSS loyalist, five-time MP, returns as Union minister

A die-hard RSS loyalist and long-time BJP worker, Pralhad Joshi is a fifth time member of Parliament from the saffron party's bastion of Dharwad in Karnataka. Said to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leader Amit Shah, he held portfolios of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs in the previous Cabinet. As Parliamentary Affairs Minister, he played a key role in the functioning of both the Houses and in the passing of many crucial bills of national importance, during the 17th Lok Sabha. He spearheaded a series of initiatives and policy interventions which led to "unlocking the true potential" of the Coal & Mining sector towards self-reliance, a senior BJP leader said. Joshi, who had also served as BJP Karnataka president, came to the limelight as 'Rastradwaja Horata Samiti Sanchalak', when the party organised a movement to hoist the tricolour at Idgah Maidan in Hubballi that had created a huge law and order situation, and also "Save Kashmir Movement" in early ...

Captive, commercial coal blocks output surged 27% to 147 MT in FY24: Joshi

Captive and commercial coal blocks produced 147 million tonne coal in financial year 2023-24, registering a year-on-year growth of 27 per cent, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. The mines had produced 116 MT coal during 2022-23. Out of 147.2 MT, power sector captive mines produced around 121.3 MT, non-power sector mines produced 8.4 MT and the production from commercial mines was 17.5 MT, Joshi said in a post on X. The production from power sector captive mines in FY24 rose 19 per cent as compared to the previous year. In non-power captive mines, the production growth was 63 per cent year-on-year. Output from commercial coal mines registered the highest year-on-year growth of 93 per cent in FY24. Dispatch from the mines during FY24 was 143 MT as against 110 MT in FY23. A total of 9 new coal mines commenced production during FY24 which includes 4 captive mines and 5 commercial mines. "The Ministry extends its appreciation to all stakeholders for their dedication and

Coal, lignite production hits all-time high of 1 bn tonnes in FY24: Joshi

The country has for the first time crossed the milestone of 1 billion tonnes of coal and lignite production in the financial year 2023-24, Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Monday. India's total coal and lignite output was at 937 million tonnes (MT) in the preceding 2022-23 fiscal, as per official figures. "Proud to share that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we have registered a stellar achievement by crossing 1 billion tonne (BT) coal and lignite production," Joshi said. It is a historic moment for India as the country has achieved the highest-ever production, and it will go a long way in ensuring energy security to the nation. The continuous efforts to increase domestic coal production has ensured that going forward the country will never have to face coal shortage, the minister said. Joshi further said, "I thank the officials of the sector, all the coal warriors and private miners for their grit and hard work in helping achieve mission-1BT. Owing to y

Ministry to ensure 874 mn tonne coal supply for power sector in FY25: Joshi

The coal ministry is geared up to meet 874 million tonnes of anticipated coal demand for the power sector in 2024-25, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. For the financial year ending March 31, the Power Ministry had placed a requirement of 821 million tonnes, Joshi told PTI on the sidelines of the release of the 'PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan in Coal Sector' booklet. Their (power ministry's) demand has been met. They had asked for 821 million tonnes and it has been supplied, the Minister said. "For FY25, the power ministry has asked for 874 million tonnes of coal. We will fulfil this requirement also. We are going to cross 1 billion tonne coal production by this March," he said. The share of imported coal for blending purposes has gone down this fiscal compared to last financial year, Joshi said. In FY24, coal import for blending was around 22.20 million tonnes, while it was at 30.80 million tonnes in the financial year 2022-23, he said. Savings to the tune of

Coal ministry will fulfill 874 mn tonnes coal requirement in FY25: Min

The coal ministry is geared up to fulfill the 874 million tonnes coal demand for the power sector in financial year 2024-25, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. For the financial year ending March 31, the Power Ministry had placed a requirement of 821 million tonnes, Joshi told PTI on the sidelines of the release of 'PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan in Coal Sector' booklet. Their (power ministry's) demand has been met. They had asked for 821 million tonnes and it has been supplied, the Minister said. "For FY25, the power ministry has asked for 874 million tonnes of coal. We will fulfill this requirement also. We are going to cross 1 billion tonne coal production by this March," he said. The share of imported coal for blending purposes has gone down this fiscal compared to last financial year, Joshi said. In FY24, coal import for blending was around 22.20 million tonnes, while it was at 30.80 million tonnes in the financial year 2022-23, he said. Savings to the tune

First tranche of offshore mineral auction expected by mid-2024: Joshi

The first tranche of offshore minerals auctions is likely to kick off by June-July this year, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said. A total of 10 offshore mineral blocks have been short-listed by the mines ministry, and inter-ministerial consultations are underway to seek necessary clearances for auctions at the earliest, the Minister for Coal and Mines told PTI. When asked about a timeframe for the auction of offshore minerals, he said the auctions are likely to kick off by June-July of 2024. The blocks are located on the east and west coast of India, Joshi said without sharing any further information. "Our plan is to launch more tranches of auction of offshore minerals after concluding the first one," the minister added. The government amended the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, to provide an auction route for awarding production leases for offshore minerals. Offshore minerals are located deep within the earth's crust and are difficult to extract com

Centre launches 2nd round of critical mineral auction worth Rs 30 trillion

The inaugural round for the auction of critical minerals in the country commenced on November 29. The minister disclosed that over 180 potential bidders have procured the tender documents

Nirmala Sitharaman, Jaishankar to contest LS polls, says Pralhad Joshi

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has said Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, it has not been decided yet as to where they will contest from, he added. "It is appearing in the media. More or less it is final that they (Nirmala Sitharaman and Jaishankar) will contest the Lok Sabha elections. It has not been decided yet from where they will fight, whether it is in Karnataka or some other state," Joshi, who holds the Coal and Mines portfolio, told reporters here on Monday. To a question whether it will be Bengaluru, Joshi said, "How can I answer when nothing has been finalised?" Union Finance Minister Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar are Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka and Gujarat respectively.

12 Bills passed by both Houses in 17th LS: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

The minister informed further the productivity over 11 days of sittings was logged at approximately 148 per cent in the Lok Sabha and 137 per cent approximately in the Rajya Sabha

Highlights of the day: Bengal transferring money to 2.1 mn MGNREGA workers

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5 of 14 rail projects taken up to boost coal evacuation, commissioned: Govt

Of the 14 rail projects taken up for implementation to boost coal evacuation, five have already been commissioned and the remaining are at different stages of construction, Parliament was informed on Monday. In addition, coastal shipping and inland waterways are also being promoted for evacuation of coal, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Replying to a query, Joshi said, "14 rail projects have been taken up for implementation for improving coal evacuation... Of these, five rail lines have already been commissioned and others are at various stages of construction." "In addition to the above, the Ministry of Railways has planned several rail projects under Green Energy Corridor Projects, High-density Network Projects and Rail Sagar Projects," the minister said. The coal ministry recently launched a coal logistics policy and integrated coal evacuation plan to address the issue of coal transportation amidst rising demands.

Govt focusing on eliminating non-essential imports of coal: Pralhad Joshi

The government has taken several steps to ramp up domestic production of coal and is committed to reducing shipments of all substitutable grade coal, Parliament was informed on Monday. Coal import for blending dropped 44.3 per cent in April-November FY24 over the year-ago period, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. "The focus of the government is on increasing the domestic production of coal and to eliminate non-essential imports of coal in the country. Most of the requirements of coal in the country are met through indigenous production/supply," he said. The country imported 169.08 MT of coal in April-November FY24. The import was 237.67 MT in FY23, 208.63 MT in FY22 and 215.25 MT in FY21.

India will have surplus domestic coal by FY26: Coal minister Joshi

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs 8,500 crore financial incentives for coal gasification projects in three categories

Coal production to touch 1 bn tonnes for first time: Union minister Joshi

Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said for the first time, the country's coal production is going to cross 1 billion tonne. India is going to stop the import of substitutable coal from next year, Joshi said at the second State Mining Ministers' Conference here. The union minister said there are going to be many difficulties in the coming days as the country will have to do gasification of coal. "Along with these things (difficulties), as far as coal is concerned, this time we are going to cross production of one billion tonnes. This is happening for the first time... I am assuring the country that we are going to stop the import of all substitutable coal from next year," Joshi said. According to him, like petroleum and natural gas, the mining ministry is also very important for the country's economy to grow and become the third largest in the world. Further, he said that the mining revenue of Odisha was Rs 5,000 crore in 2013-14 and after the auction was .

The impetus should originate in states: Union minister Pralhad Joshi

In an interview with Nitin Kumar, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi says the government has taken proactive steps to develop a secure supply chain for critical minerals

Oppn MPs requested suspension after some MPs were suspended: Pralhad Joshi

Slamming the opposition over disruptions during Winter Session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday said the government was not keen to suspend MPs from Lok Sabha, but opposition members came with requests for suspension after action was taken against some of their colleagues. Addressing a press conference here, Joshi also said the opposition was free to move court against the three new criminal laws if they felt something was wrong with the draft legislations approved by both the Houses of Parliament. "We did not want to suspend MPs, we requested them. But after we suspended a few MPs, several of their colleagues came with requests to us seeking suspension. This is the level the Congress stoops to," said Joshi, flanked by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal. Joshi said the government's floor managers had told the opposition MPs that action was taken against those indulging in indiscipline by bringing placards to the House. "They told us

India expected to be surplus in coal production by FY26: Pralhad Joshi

The country is likely to be surplus in coal production by FY26, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. India may be surplus in coal production except for some high quality fossil fuel and coking coal needed for the steel industry and imported coal-based power plants. Replying to a query in Lok Sabha, coal and mines minister Pralhad Joshi said, "India is expected to be surplus in coal production by the year 2025-26 except for some high quality coal and coking coal required for steel sector and ICB plants." To another query, the minster said that against the estimated coal demand of 1,196.60 million tonne (MT) in the current fiscal, the country's production target of the fossil fuel is 1,012.14 MT. Joshi said "the estimated coal demand for 202324 is 1,196.60 MT." The coal production target for 202324 is 1,012.14 MT, the minister said. The government, he said, under a central sector scheme, carries out exploration of coal and lignite through Central Mine Planning & Design Institute .

They want to do politics in everything: Pralhad Joshi attacks Oppn parties

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi also reacted on the seat distribution of INDIA bloc and said that whatever happened in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, everyone saw

Parliament security breach: High-level probe on, says Union minister Joshi

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday said a high-level probe is on in the Parliament security breach incident, as opposition MPs continued with their protest, demanding a statement on the issue from Home Minister Amit Shah and a discussion in both Houses. Asked about the opposition's allegation that the Centre is trying to suppress its voice, Joshi said, "No one is trying to suppress anyone's voice, it is their opinion. I want to say, come and debate. Two bills are listed today. On Monday, there are three important bills to replace the IPC, the CrPC and the Evidence Act. We want a detailed discussion. We have allotted 15 hours." In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two men -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D -- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during the Zero Hour, released a yellow-coloured smoke from canisters and shouted slogans, before being overpowered by the MPs. Amid demands fr

Coal import drops 5% in Apr-Sep period to 125.21 MT: Govt in Parliament

Country's coal import has registered a drop of five per cent at 125.21 million tonnes (MT) in the April-September period of the ongoing financial year, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, coal and power minister Pralhad Joshi said that, had the production through auction, commercial coal auction not started, then as per compound annual growth rate (CAGR) there would have been a need to import 150 million tonnes (MT) of coal, but the country has actually imported only 125.21 MT of coal during the April-September period of 2023-24. "In the current year 2023-24, coal import up to the month of September 2023, was 125.21 MT, which is a decline of 5 per cent over the corresponding period last year," the minister said. The government has taken several measures to substitute coal imports. There is a thrust on enhancement of domestic coal production which is key to achieve self-reliance and reduce dependence on imported coal. In 2022-23, coal ...