State-owned Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and five other entities have secured seven coal blocks in the 12th round of commercial coal auctions, according to the Ministry of Coal. The auctions were held between 28 and 31 July 2025 following the launch of the bidding round on 27 March 2025.The auctioned blocks include three fully explored and four partially explored coal reserves, collectively holding an estimated geological reserve of approximately 1.76 billion tonnes. The combined Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) of the fully explored blocks stands at 5.25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).The auctions drew strong interest from industry players, with an average revenue share of 26.70 per cent, reflecting sustained confidence in the coal sector and the government's transparent policy approach.The awarded blocks are projected to generate annual revenues of around Rs 7.2 billion (excluding partially explored blocks), attract capital investments of approximately Rs 7.88 billion, and create over 7,000 jobs.Since the start of commercial coal mining in 2020, India has successfully auctioned 131 coal blocks with a combined production capacity of 277.31 mtpa. Upon becoming operational, the newly auctioned blocks are expected to significantly enhance domestic coal production and contribute to India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in the coal sector.Altogether, these mining initiatives are estimated to generate thousands of crores in annual revenue and create employment for over 374,000 people across coal-bearing regions. The Ministry of Coal stated that these strategic efforts not only meet the nation’s energy requirements but also drive economic development and support the vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.