India Auctions 91 Coal Mines

11 Mar 2024 CW Team

According to the Ministry of Coal, between the fiscal years 2015 to 2020, 24 coal mines were auctioned under captive auctions. However, a significant leap was observed with the commercial auctions, which promised substantial revenue and employment opportunities for over 300,000 people once the mines became operational.

The Ministry disclosed that it received 40 offline bids for the coal mines in the ninth round of commercial auction on 19 February, with results pending announcement.

Highlighting the impact of the auction regime, the Ministry emphasised its role in unlocking opportunities within the coal industry while fostering sustainable development across various sectors. The government's policies have encouraged active participation from companies in coal block auctions.

The Ministry also acknowledged its dedication to economic growth and energy security since the Supreme Court of India cancelled 204 coal blocks in 2014. The enactment of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act of 2015 facilitated the auctioning of coal blocks to the private sector and allotment to PSUs through fair and transparent processes.

Reforms in the coal sector have increased private sector participation, promoted healthy competition, and injected fresh investments and technologies. A two-stage auction mechanism was adopted to ensure transparency and prevent cartel formation, with 24 coal mines auctioned to the private sector and 53 allotted to PSUs.

In June 2020, the government launched auctions of coal mines without end-use restrictions, enhancing transparency and flexibility in the auction methodology, tender conditions, and auction process. This move witnessed participation from both private and public sectors for the first time, leading to broader involvement from existing players and newcomers in the mining sector.

The government announced on 5 March 2024 that it has successfully auctioned off 91 coal mines, projecting annual revenue of over Rs 330 billion. Since the inception of commercial coal auctions in 2020, the process has been praised for its transparency and fairness, without any reported complaints from the industry. According to the Ministry of Coal, between the fiscal years 2015 to 2020, 24 coal mines were auctioned under captive auctions. However, a significant leap was observed with the commercial auctions, which promised substantial revenue and employment opportunities for over 300,000 people once the mines became operational. The Ministry disclosed that it received 40 offline bids for the coal mines in the ninth round of commercial auction on 19 February, with results pending announcement. Highlighting the impact of the auction regime, the Ministry emphasised its role in unlocking opportunities within the coal industry while fostering sustainable development across various sectors. The government's policies have encouraged active participation from companies in coal block auctions. The Ministry also acknowledged its dedication to economic growth and energy security since the Supreme Court of India cancelled 204 coal blocks in 2014. The enactment of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act of 2015 facilitated the auctioning of coal blocks to the private sector and allotment to PSUs through fair and transparent processes. Reforms in the coal sector have increased private sector participation, promoted healthy competition, and injected fresh investments and technologies. A two-stage auction mechanism was adopted to ensure transparency and prevent cartel formation, with 24 coal mines auctioned to the private sector and 53 allotted to PSUs. In June 2020, the government launched auctions of coal mines without end-use restrictions, enhancing transparency and flexibility in the auction methodology, tender conditions, and auction process. This move witnessed participation from both private and public sectors for the first time, leading to broader involvement from existing players and newcomers in the mining sector.

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Infrastructure Energy

27 Oct 2025

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..