<P> Coal mining in India began in 1774 when John Sumner and Suetonius Grant Heatly of the East India Company commenced commercial exploitation in the Raniganj Coalfield along the Western bank of Damodar river . As on 31 March 2015, India had estimated coal reserves of 306.6 billion metric tons (338.0 billion short tons), the fifth largest coal reserves in the world . India is the fourth largest producer of coal in the world, producing 536.5 million metric tons (591.4 million short tons) in 2014 . </P> <P> Due to high demand and poor average quality, India is forced to import high quality coal to meet the requirements of steel plants . India's coal imports have risen from 43.08 million metric tons (0.04749 billion short tons) in 2006 - 07 to 199.88 million metric tons (0.22033 billion short tons) in 2015 - 16 . India's coal exports rose from 1.55 million metric tons (1.71 million short tons) in 2006 - 07 to 2.45 million metric tons (2.70 million short tons) in 2009 - 10, but subsequently declined to 1.25 million metric tons (1.38 million short tons) in 2015 - 16 . </P>

Which is the first coal mine in india