**Executive Summary**
On April 17, 2026, the Ministry of Coal launched the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions and hosted a stakeholder consultation titled "Atmanirbhar Bharat: Coal for Energy Security." The initiative offers 11 coal blocks across five states to strengthen India's energy security and promote self-reliance through increased private participation. Key themes include technological innovation in coal gasification, sustainable mine closures, and enhancing domestic supply chains.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**15th Round Auction Details**
* **Block Availability:** A total of 11 coal blocks are being offered, consisting of 7 fully explored and 4 partially explored mines.
* **Coal Types:** The auction includes 1 coking coal block and 10 non-coking coal blocks to serve the steel and power sectors.
* **Geographic Distribution:** Mines are located across the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.
* **Legal Framework:** 3 mines are offered under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 (CMSP), and 8 under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR).
* **Re-offered Blocks:** The round includes 6 coal mines being offered as a second attempt from the 13th auction round.
**Strategic Reforms and Policy Focus**
* **Market Liberalization:** The commercial coal mining framework introduced in 2020 continues to drive competition and private sector participation.
* **Ease of Doing Business:** The Ministry is adopting a "whole-of-government" approach to simplify regulatory processes and ease procedural barriers for stakeholders.
* **Energy Security:** Efforts are focused on increasing domestic production to safeguard against evolving geopolitical challenges.
**Technology and Sustainability**
* **Coal Gasification:** The government is promoting surface and underground coal gasification as a cleaner utilization pathway, supported by viability gap funding.
* **Environmental Stewardship:** Emphasis is placed on scientific mine closure and ecological restoration to transform mined-out areas into vibrant habitats.
* **Regulatory Support:** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has provided the Terms of Reference (ToR) framework to facilitate gasification projects.
**Social and Inclusive Growth**
* **Community Welfare:** Focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), rehabilitation, resettlement, and worker welfare as pillars of sectoral growth.
* **Economic Impact:** The auctions are expected to generate significant investment and create employment opportunities in coal-bearing regions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Industry Leaders and Private Investors**
**Impact**
Investors gain access to new commercial opportunities in 11 coal blocks with a regulatory environment focused on transparency and efficiency.
**Action Required**
Interested parties must evaluate the offered blocks and actively participate in the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions.
**State Governments (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana)**
**Impact**
These states are poised to receive increased investment, enhanced domestic coal availability, and growth in local employment.
**Action Required**
State authorities must coordinate with the Ministry of Coal to ease procedural barriers and foster an enabling ecosystem for mine operationalization.
**Local Communities in Coal-Bearing Regions**
**Impact**
Communities stand to benefit from strengthened CSR initiatives, improved rehabilitation frameworks, and the transformation of mined-out land into community assets.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders should engage with development initiatives to ensure community well-being and long-term social stability move in tandem with industrial scale.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)**
**Impact**
The department plays a critical role in facilitating cleaner energy projects through provided frameworks like the Terms of Reference (ToR).
**Action Required**
Continued collaboration with the Ministry of Coal to oversee ecological restoration and facilitate coal gasification projects.
Key Entities Referenced
15th Round of Commercial Coal Mine Auctions: An initiative launched to offer 11 coal blocks for auction to enhance domestic production, competition, and energy security.
Ministry of Coal: The primary government ministry responsible for steering the commercial coal mining framework and conducting stakeholder consultations.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: The legislative framework under which 8 of the 11 coal blocks in the 15th auction round are being offered.
Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015: The legal act governing the auction of 3 coal blocks offered in the 15th round of commercial mining auctions.
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana: The coal and lignite bearing states where the mines offered in the 15th auction round are located.
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 6:00PM by PIB Delhi
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. A total of 11 coal blocks are being offered in the 15th round, 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). It includes 1 coking coal block 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 underscored that the structural
reforms in the coal sector are closely aligned with the vision of 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 successive
rounds 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 emphasised 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 said that CSR initiatives have been instrumental in bringing
positive change in coal-bearing regions and must continue to be strengthened so that communities feelincluded 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. 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, she emphasised
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 furtherreflects 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.
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… pic.twitter.com/d0OkogP8z3
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) April 17, 2026
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, highlighted that the ongoing
structural reforms in the coal sector are… pic.twitter.com/nIcOvjj3vu
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) April 17, 2026
Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, inaugurated the 15th Round of
Commercial Coal Mine Auctions, marking another major step towards
transparency, competition, and self-reliance in India’s coal sector.
The new round is set to accelerate domestic coal production,… pic.twitter.com/F
SJtNkNSzs
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) April 17, 2026
Shri Sajeesh Kumar N., CCO, led Session I on Operationalization & Reforms,
focusing on the processes and compliance involved in preparation and approval
of mining plans, mine opening permissions, and mine closure procedures.
The session highlighted the importance of timely… pic.twitter.com/7lOBTR9ur9
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) April 17, 2026Session - II
Driving innovation for a resilient coal future, Session 2 on Technology Adoption &
Gasification focused on building future-ready mines through better planning,
innovation, and modern mining systems.
The session -II placed strong emphasis on mine safety,… pic.twitter.com/Os6iSU
xgB9
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) April 17, 2026
Putting people at the heart of progress, Session III on Inclusive Growth focused
on rehabilitation & resettlement, worker welfare, and CSR as key pillars of
sustainable and inclusive development in the coal sector.
The discussions reflected a strong sense of responsibility among… pic.twitter.co
m/QHIzBgKycW
— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) April 17, 2026
****
Shuhaib T
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