India and the United States of America have reached an accord on the framework for their trade deal under which Washington will levy 18% tariff on a range of imports from India. The trade deal with the US could also dim the intensity of Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. Just over a week ago, the government notified coking coal as a critical and strategic material under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. India has coking coal reserves of 38 billion tonnes but still imported 57 million tonnes in 2024-25. The high-level committee on Viksit Bharat goals had recommended the coking coal notification, which now presumably will run aground.

Source: The Telegraph February 09, 2026 02:27 UTC