Prospects for coal-generated electricity are receding globally, yet India remains one of the last countries to use the oldest and dirtiest energy source, although construction of new coal-fired power plants is faltering.

Coal is the mainstay of India's energy production with 75% electricity produced from coal in 2014. Despite India’s commitments to limit emissions and use renewables increasingly for electricity production, coal’s share in India’s commercial energy production is projected to remain over 66% in 2021-22 as it has been since 2000.

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Source: Niti Aayog

(Patil is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)

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