**Executive Summary**
On 17 April 2026, the Ministry of Coal hosted a stakeholder consultation in Mumbai to launch the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s energy security and achieve self-reliance by offering 11 coal blocks across five states. Key focus areas include structural reforms, technological innovation in coal gasification, and sustainable mining practices to drive domestic production and economic growth.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **15th Round Auction Details**
* A total of 11 coal blocks are offered, consisting of seven fully explored and four partially explored mines.
* The blocks include one coking coal mine and 10 non-coking coal mines, catering to the steel and power sectors.
* Three mines are offered under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, and eight under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
* An additional six coal mines are being offered as a second attempt of the 13th auction round.
* Mines are located across the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.
* **Strategic and Regulatory Reforms**
* Implementation of a "whole-of-government" approach to simplify regulatory processes and ease procedural barriers.
* Focus on transparency and efficiency to attract private sector participation and foster competition.
* The commercial coal mining framework, introduced in 2020, has successfully auctioned 135 mines to date with a Peak Rated Capacity of 325 million tonnes per annum.
* **Technology and Innovation**
* Prioritization of coal gasification (both surface and underground) as a cleaner energy pathway.
* Support for projects through policy measures such as viability gap funding.
* Issuance of enabling guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification and the provision of Terms of Reference (ToR) frameworks by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
* **Sustainability and Community Welfare**
* Emphasis on "scientific mine closure" to transform mined-out areas into ecological habitats and community assets.
* Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), rehabilitation, resettlement, and worker welfare.
* Promotion of "just transition" strategies to balance industrial growth with environmental stewardship.
**Impact Analysis**
**Potential Bidders and Industry Leaders**
**Impact**
Stakeholders gain access to new investment avenues in the coal sector through a transparent and competitive auction process.
**Action Required**
Interested parties are encouraged to actively participate in the 15th and subsequent auction rounds and adopt sustainable mining technologies.
**Key Industrial Sectors (Steel and Power)**
**Impact**
Enhanced domestic coal availability reduces reliance on imports and strengthens the supply chain for essential industries.
**Action Required**
Sectors must align their procurement strategies with the increased domestic production capabilities.
**State Governments (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, MP, and Telangana)**
**Impact**
The auctions are expected to generate significant investment, create local employment opportunities, and drive regional economic growth.
**Action Required**
State authorities must collaborate with the Ministry of Coal to facilitate an enabling ecosystem and minimize procedural delays for new projects.
**Local Communities in Coal-Bearing Regions**
**Impact**
Communities stand to benefit from strengthened CSR initiatives, improved land repurposing, and ecological restoration of mined areas.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders must engage in deliberations regarding rehabilitation and resettlement to ensure inclusive growth.
Key Entities Referenced
15th Round of Commercial Coal Mine Auctions: The specific initiative launched to auction 11 coal blocks to private players to enhance domestic coal production and energy security.
Ministry of Coal: The primary government body responsible for driving reforms, conducting mine auctions, and managing India's coal sector.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR): The primary legal framework under which eight of the coal blocks in the 15th auction round are being offered.
Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 (CMSP): The legislation governing the auction of three specific coal mines mentioned in this auction round.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: The national self-reliance initiative providing the policy context for the 'Coal for Energy Security' stakeholder consultation.
Ministry of Coal
Ministry of Coal Drives Energy Security Push;
Hosts Key Stakeholders’ consultation and
launches 15th round of Commercial Coal Mine
Auction
Posted On: 17 APR 2026 5:47PM by PIB Mumbai
: Mumbai, 17th April, 2026
The Ministry of Coal today convened the Stakeholder Consultation on ‘Atmanirbhar
Bharat: Coal for Energy Security’, alongside the launch of the 15th round of
Commercial Coal Mine Auctions, marking another significant milestone in
strengthening India’s energy security and advancing self-reliance in the coal sector.
The day-long consultation brought together policymakers, industry leaders,
academia, experts, and stakeholders to deliberate on reforms, technological
advancements, coal gasification, sustainability, and inclusive growth shaping the
future of India’s coal sector.
Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, graced the occasion as the Chief
Guest. Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority; Shri
Sajeesh Kumar N, Coal Controller; senior officials of the Ministry; industry leaders;
and key stakeholders from across the coal sector were present on the occasion.Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal launched the 15th Round of
Commercial Coal Mine Auctions.During the launch of the 15th round of commercial
coal mine auctions, a total of 11 coal blocks have been offered, including 7 fully
explored and 4 partially explored mines. Of these, 3 mines are being offered under
the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 (CMSP) and 8 under the Mines and
Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR). The mines include 1
coking coal blocks and remaining 10 are non-coking coal blocks, catering to the
requirements of key sectors such as steel and power. Additionally, 6 coal mines are
also being offered of 2nd attempt of 13th round.
The mines being auctioned are spread across coal/ lignite bearing states of
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, and are expected
to attract significant investment, enhance domestic coal availability, and generate
employment opportunities.
So far, the Ministry of Coal has successfully auctioned 135 coal mines across 13
rounds of commercial coal mine auctions, with a Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) of
approximately 325 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), reflecting the strong
momentum in unlocking India’s coal potential.
Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, in his keynote address at the
stakeholder consultation on Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Coal for Energy Security and
the launch of commercial coal mine auctions, underscored that the structural
reforms in the coal sector are closely aligned with the vision of Hon’ble Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi, with a sustained focus on transparency, efficiency, and
unlocking the sector’s full potential. He highlighted that the introduction of the
commercial coal mining framework in 2020 marked a transformative shift in the
sector, paving the way for enhanced competition, private sector participation, and
improved coal availability for domestic industries. Reflecting on the progress
achieved, he noted that the framework has yielded significant outcomes, including
increased number of mines auctioned, growing investor interest, and strengthening
of domestic supply chains. He expressed satisfaction that participation in successiverounds of auctions has consistently risen, indicating strong and growing confidence
among stakeholders. Emphasising a whole-of-government approach, he highlighted
the importance of coordinated and collaborative efforts among ministries, state
governments, and industry stakeholders in easing procedural barriers, simplifying
regulatory processes, and fostering an enabling ecosystem. He added that these
concerted efforts are set to drive coal production to new heights while contributing
significantly to the nation’s economic growth trajectory.
Shri Dutt further elaborated that the Ministry’s commitments span multiple
dimensions, including sustainability, community welfare, and technological
advancement. He stressed the importance of scientific mine closure, highlighting the
need to transform mined-out areas into co-created, vibrant habitats that promote a
harmonious ecosystem, ensuring ecological restoration alongside community well-
being and long-term social stability. He emphasised that CSR initiatives have been
instrumental in bringing positive change in coal-bearing regions and must continue
to be strengthened so that communities feel included and benefit from development
initiatives. On the technology front, he highlighted the Government’s thrust on coal
gasification as a cleaner and more efficient utilisation pathway, supported through
policy measures such as viability gap funding, and noted that Underground Coal
Gasification blocks have already been offered in previous auction rounds. Referring
to the evolving geopolitical landscape, he underscored the importance of enhancing
domestic coal production to safeguard India’s energy security. Concluding his
address, he called upon all stakeholders to actively participate in the upcoming
rounds of commercial coal mine auctions, contribute meaningfully to the sector’s
growth, and collectively advance the vision of a resilient, inclusive, and self-reliant
coal sector.
Smt Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, set a decisive and
forward-looking tone in her opening remarks at the stakeholder consultation on
Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Coal for Energy Security and the launch of the 15th round of
commercial coal mine auctions. She called for accelerated coal production with a
conscious approach, balancing growth with environmental stewardship and
community well-being underscoring that sustainability must move in tandem with
scale. Highlighting the transformational impact of coal sector reforms, sheemphasised transparency, policy stability, and ease of doing business as key drivers
attracting investment, fostering competition, and unlocking new economic avenues.
She reiterated that while India stands as the 2nd largest coal producer, the sector
holds far greater potential positioning coal as a powerful engine of employment,
industrial growth, and national energy security.
Focusing on innovation, she highlighted coal gasification pathways both surface and
underground, noting that enabling guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification
have been issued and that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC) has already provided the Terms of Reference (ToR) framework to facilitate
such projects. She further stressed the importance of scientific mine closure,
highlighting responsible post-mining land use that transforms mined areas into
assets for communities, ensuring ecological restoration and long-term social
stability, with due emphasis on responsibility and human factors. Reinforcing a
whole-of-sector approach, she highlighted the need for collaboration among
government, industry, and stakeholders to drive efficiency, adopt best practices, and
scale sustainable mining technologies. Concluding with a strong call to action, she
urged stakeholders to actively participate, share insights, and shape outcomes,
making the consultation a meaningful step towards a resilient, inclusive, and self-
reliant coal ecosystem.
The stakeholder consultation witnessed insightful deliberations across key sessions
covering critical dimensions of coal sector transformation. Discussions focused on
technology adoption, innovation and coal gasification to drive efficiency and value
addition; inclusive growth through rehabilitation, resettlement, land repurposing,
worker welfare, CSR and just transition with communities and all stakeholders at
the centre and sustainability measures promoting greener mining practices and
environmental stewardship; Together, the sessions reflected a holistic roadmap for a
modern, responsible, future-ready and self-reliant coal sector. Following the
deliberations, the session was opened for an interactive Q&A segment with
stakeholders, providing a valuable platform for exchange.The Ministry of Coal is steering the sector towards a future-ready, resilient, and
globally competitive coal ecosystem. The 15th Round of Commercial Coal Mine
Auctions is set to unlock new investment avenues, enhance domestic production,
and reinforce India’s energy security. The stakeholder consultation further reflects
the Ministry’s commitment to continuous engagement, innovation, and sustainable
practices, ensuring that the coal sector evolves in alignment with emerging global
realities and national priorities.
***
Edgar Coelho/Parshuram Kor
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