Where are the coal reserves of India largely concentrated?

India's coal reserves are primarily found in rock sequences of two geological ages: Gondwana and Tertiary deposits [c2][t7]. Approximately 98% of India's total coal reserves are Gondwana coal, which is over 200 million years old [t5][t7]. These Gondwana coalfields are largely concentrated in the Damodar Valley, particularly within the Jharkhand-West Bengal coal belt [c2][t3]. This region contains the country's most significant coalfields, including Jharia (the largest), Raniganj, Bokaro, Giridih, and Karanpura [c1][c2]. While other river valleys like the Son, Mahanadi, and Godavari also contain substantial coal deposits, the Damodar Valley remains the primary hub for metallurgical and coking coal production in India [c2][t1][t3]. Tertiary coal, by contrast, is found in smaller quantities in the northeastern states like Assam and Meghalaya [c1][t4].

Sources

1. [1] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > Rock Minerals > p. 115
2. [2] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Coal > p. 59
3. [3] https://mlsu.ac.in/econtents/1895_Distribution%20of%20Coal%20&%20Petroleum%20in%20India.pdf
4. [4] http://www.rammohancollege.ac.in/images/Study%20Materials/Geography/DSE_B%2004_TOPIC_6_%20MINING%20AND%20ENERGY%20RESOURCES%20IN%20INDIA.pdf