**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Coal conducted a high-level Stakeholder Consultation on March 17, 2026, to strategize the acceleration of domestic coal production and strengthen India’s energy security. The session focused on policy reforms, removing operational bottlenecks, and fostering private sector participation to achieve the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Key highlights included the announcement that captive and commercial coal production crossed 200 MT for the first time in the current financial year.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Strategic Policy Reforms**
* Implementation of the "Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform" mantra to drive comprehensive changes across the coal value chain.
* Introduction of landmark initiatives including commercial coal mining, the Single Window Clearance System, and various digital reforms.
* Focus on simplifying processes for exploration, mining plan approvals, and environmental/forest clearances to ensure early mine operationalization.
* **Production and Growth Milestones**
* Captive and commercial mines achieved a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of nearly 30% from FY 2021 to FY 2025.
* A record-breaking milestone of over 200 MT production from these mines was reached in the current financial year.
* Commitment to reducing import dependence through fast-tracked domestic production and coordinated policy support.
* **Operational and Technical Focus**
* Emphasis on scientific mine closure and sustainable mining practices.
* Promotion of underground coal mining through incentivization, technological adoption, and improved operational efficiency.
* Leveraging abundant reserves for coal gasification and enhancing supply chain efficiency from development to closure.
* **Stakeholder Collaboration**
* Establishment of regular consultations as a vital platform for incorporating industry feedback in a responsive and inclusive manner.
* Emphasis on strengthening collaboration between government and industry to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.
**Impact Analysis**
**Private Sector Participants**
**Impact**
The shift to commercial coal mining and a more transparent, competitive ecosystem provides greater ease of doing business and enhanced regulatory clarity.
**Action Required**
Engage in the auction process, utilize the Single Window Clearance System for faster project execution, and increase investment in domestic production capacities.
**Ministry of Coal and Government Officials**
**Impact**
The Ministry is moving toward a stakeholder-centric approach, focusing on removing systemic bottlenecks rather than making incremental changes.
**Action Required**
Systematically remove operational hurdles, provide sustained policy support, and ensure effective implementation of reforms across the entire value chain.
**Industry Experts and Sector Stakeholders**
**Impact**
These groups now have a formal, interactive platform to provide feedback on policy frameworks and discuss operational challenges.
**Action Required**
Exchange views and align efforts with government objectives to promote innovation in mining practices and technological adoption.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: The primary government body leading stakeholder consultations to accelerate domestic production and implement policy reforms for energy security.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: The national vision for self-reliance that drives the strategic mandate for reducing coal import dependence and enhancing domestic supply.
Commercial coal mining: A landmark policy initiative highlighted for empowering private sector participation and accelerating resource extraction.
Single Window Clearance System: A key digital reform initiative designed to streamline regulatory approvals and enhance the ease of doing business in the coal sector.
Viksit Bharat 2047: The long-term national objective for a developed India, serving as the target timeline for sustained coal sector transformation.
Ministry of Coal
Coal Ministry Holds Stakeholders Consultation
on Accelerating Domestic Coal Production
Posted On: 17 MAR 2026 6:04PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Coal organized a high-level Stakeholder Consultation on “Accelerating Domestic Coal
Production in Light of Policy Reforms” today, bringing together senior government leadership and key
stakeholders from across the coal sector to deliberate on strategies for enhancing domestic coal
production, faster mine development and operationalization for strengthening India’s energy security.
The occasion was graced by Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy as the Chief Guest.
Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, provided strategic guidance and led the discussions
with clarity and purpose, reflecting the Ministry’s reform-driven and stakeholder-centric approach. Senior
officials from the Ministry of Coal, private sector participants, industry experts, and other stakeholders
from the coal ecosystem participated in the deliberations.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy emphasized that India
must go beyond incremental reforms to achieve the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Highlighting the
guiding mantra of “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform,” he underscored the need for continuous and
comprehensive reforms across the entire coal value chain, including exploration, auctions, clearances,
operations, financing with special focus on scientific mine closure. He stressed that bottlenecks must be
systematically removed to enhance production, improve supply efficiency and ensure seamless
functioning from mine development to closure.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of regular stakeholder consultations as a vital platform for
incorporating feedback and suggestions, assuring that the Government remains committed to engaging
with stakeholders in a responsive and inclusive manner. He emphasized the need to promote coalgasification, leveraging India’s abundant coal reserves, and noted that private sector participation in coal
production is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Reiterating the Government’s
commitment to energy security, he called for fast-tracking coal production through coordinated efforts and
sustained policy support.
In his opening remarks, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, stated that as India moves
towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, sustained policy-driven reforms have significantly transformed
the coal sector into a more transparent, competitive and efficient ecosystem. He noted that these reforms
have strengthened ease of doing business, enhanced regulatory clarity and created an enabling
environment for faster growth and development across the sector.
He further highlighted that landmark initiatives such as commercial coal mining, Single Window
Clearance System and digital reforms have played a pivotal role in advancing national objectives. These
measures have strengthened institutional frameworks, empowered and encouraged greater private sector
participation, and accelerated mine operationalisation and efficient resource extraction. He also underlined
that these efforts are contributing towards reducing import dependence, fostering industry collaboration
and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.Smt.Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal made a presentation on ‘Policy Reforms &
Accelerating Domestic Coal Production’. Smt Brar noted that the coal production from Captive and
Commercial mines have first time crossed 200MT in this Financial Year. Smt Brar also highlighted that
the coal production from captive and commercial mines have grown at a CAGR of nearly 30% from FY
2021 to FY 2025.
Smt Brar also informed the stakeholders about the policy reform undertaken by the ministry of coal for
early operationalisation of mines. She noted that various reforms were introduced to ease Exploration &
Preparation of GR, Quicker approval of Mining Plan, Simplification of the process of environmental
clearance and forest clearance and mine opening permission. Smt Brar gave detailed accounts of each
reforms. The presentation also emphasized measures to promote underground coal mining, focusing on
incentivisation, technological adoption and improved operational efficiency, with a view to ensuring
sustainable and efficient utilisation of coal resources.
The forum was then open for an interactive session, where stakeholders exchanged their views. The
consultation served as a platform for constructive dialogue among policymakers, industry representatives,
and sector experts to discuss the evolving policy framework, operational challenges, and opportunities for
accelerating coal production. The discussions concluded with a collective emphasis on strengthening
collaboration between government and industry, promoting innovation in mining practices, and ensuring
effective implementation of policy reforms to support the long-term growth and sustainability of India’s
coal sector.
The consultation provided a constructive platform for stakeholders to exchange views and align efforts
towards the shared objective of accelerating domestic coal production, reducing reliance on imports, and
reinforcing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the energy sector. The deliberations reaffirmed the
Government’s commitment to building a modern, efficient and future-ready coal sector capable of meeting
India’s rising energy requirements while ensuring sustainable and responsible mining practices.Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy, in his keynote
address at the Stakeholder Consultation on accelerating domestic coal
production, emphasized that India must go beyond reforms to achieve
Aatmanirbhar Bharat, guided by the mantra of Reform, Perform,… pic.twitter.co
m/3ZJxXTedLT
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) March 17, 2026
Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, in his opening remarks at the
Stakeholder Consultation on accelerating domestic coal production, stated that
over the years, policy-driven reforms have significantly transformed the coal
sector into a transparent, competitive and… pic.twitter.com/fzTJMd5DF5
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) March 17, 2026
During the Stakeholder Consultation, Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary,
Ministry of Coal, made a detailed presentation highlighting key policy reforms
aimed at enhancing ease of doing business in the coal sector.
She outlined various initiatives undertaken to streamline… pic.twitter.com/o2pQa
Wp9eh
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) March 17, 2026
****
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