A comprehensive coal index has been developed utilizing physicochemical properties such as LTGK coke type, volatile matter content (%) dry mineral free/dry ash free, ash content (%), moisture content (%), etc., by the application of factor analysis. New methodologies have been described for developing comprehensive coal indices and ranking of both coking and non-coking Indian coals has been attempted by the utilization of the indices developed therefrom. These techniques are more appropriate than the conventional index numbers in the sense that they provide appropriate weights for the variables and have a solid mathematical foundation.