The session was chaired by G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, in the presence of Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines, and Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal. Also present were Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary Sanoj Kumar Jha, CMDs of coal and lignite PSUs, senior officials of the Ministry, and private sector participants.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy highlighted the sector’s transformation over the past decade—from opaque coal block allocation to a system rooted in transparency, efficiency, and accountability. He credited the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and the transparent auction mechanism as key reform milestones.

Since 2014, the Ministry has introduced measures such as digital monitoring portals, quality control systems, commercial coal auctions, the single window clearance system, and adoption of clean coal technologies like gasification. The Minister called for continued innovation to achieve zero coal imports, enhance domestic output, and scale coal gasification. He urged stakeholders to contribute ideas for building a transparent, efficient, and future-ready coal sector, aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.

Minister of State Satish Chandra Dubey underlined the coal sector’s vital role in powering national development, stressing that reforms must be undertaken in the country’s best interest and with a spirit of collaboration.

Secretary Shri Vikram Dev Dutt noted the progress made in streamlining regulatory processes, particularly through coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He pointed to advancements in the Single Window Clearance System, the introduction of new features for faster resolution, and the identification of pending matters for escalation to NITI Aayog. He also emphasised refining coal gasification technologies to make them more efficient and commercially viable.

Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority Rupinder Brar welcomed stakeholder inputs and reiterated the Ministry’s openness to constructive suggestions. She stressed the importance of continued engagement to shape the future of the coal sector.