**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Coal has announced steps to expedite coal mine exploration and operationalization. On November 26, 2025, an additional 18 private entities, accredited by QCI-NABET, were notified as Accredited Prospecting Agencies under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. This aims to enhance the availability of coal and lignite to meet the nation's growing energy needs, with the full notification available on the Ministry's website.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Initiative:**
* The Government aims to accelerate the exploration and operationalization of coal mines.
* This initiative supports the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and strengthens the coal sector.
* **Accredited Prospecting Agencies:**
* 18 additional private entities, accredited by the Quality Council of India – National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (QCI-NABET), have been notified as Accredited Prospecting Agencies on November 26, 2025.
* This action is taken under the powers of the second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
* **Impact on Exploration:**
* Coal block allottees gain greater flexibility and choice in engaging agencies for coal and lignite exploration.
* The addition of these agencies is expected to save approximately 6 months in obtaining prospecting licenses.
* **Strategic Goals:**
* The Government seeks to leverage private sector resources, promote efficiency, competitiveness, and technological innovation in the exploration ecosystem.
* The move aims to accelerate resource development and enhance coal and lignite availability, contributing to faster resource development.
* **Availability of Notification:**
* The Ministry of Coal's official notification is accessible on its website at https://coal.nic.in/sites/default/files/2025-11/28-11-2025a-wn.pdf
**Impact Analysis**
**Coal Block Allottees**
* **Impact:**
* Increased flexibility and choice in selecting prospecting agencies.
* Potentially faster exploration timelines due to reduced licensing delays.
* **Action Required:**
* Review the list of newly accredited agencies.
* Assess how these agencies can be integrated into exploration plans.
**Accredited Prospecting Agencies**
* **Impact:**
* Potential for increased business opportunities through coal and lignite exploration projects.
* Contribute to the enhancement of coal and lignite availability.
* **Action Required:**
* Review the notification and associated guidelines.
* Prepare to engage with coal block allottees for prospecting operations.
**Government of India (Ministry of Coal)**
* **Impact:**
* Advancement of national energy security through enhanced coal and lignite availability.
* Strengthening of mineral exploration framework and driving economic growth.
* **Action Required:**
* Monitor the effectiveness of the additional prospecting agencies.
* Continue to foster a transparent, efficient, and future-ready mineral exploration framework.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: The ministry responsible for the policy, taking steps to speed up exploration and operationalization of coal mines.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: The legal framework under which private entities are accredited for coal exploration.
Quality Council of India – National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (QCI-NABET): Accreditation board that accredits private entities for prospecting agencies.
Ministry of Coal
Ministry of Coal Takes Yet Another Step Towards
Speedy Exploration for Early Operationalization
of Coal Mines
प्रव तथ: 28 NOV 2025 12:35PM by PIB Delhi
In its ongoing effort to strengthen the coal sector and bring India closer to the vision of Aatmanirbhar
Bharat, the Government has taken an important step aimed at speeding up the exploration and
operationalization of coal mines. In exercise of the powers under the second proviso to sub-section (1) of
section 4 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, private entities duly
accredited by the Quality Council of India – National Accreditation Board for Education and Training
(QCI-NABET) have been notified on 26th November 2025, as notified Accredited Prospecting Agencies.
The notification published by Ministry of Coal in this matter is available on its website at https://coal.nic.i
n/sites/default/files/2025-11/28-11-2025a-wn.pdf
This adds another 18 agencies for carrying out prospecting operations for the exploration of Coal and
Lignite, enabling the coal blocks allottees to have more flexibility and choice towards engaging these
agencies for carrying out the exploration of coal and lignite. Exploration and preparation of geological
report is a prerequisite for operationalization of the coal mine. The addition of these exploration agencies
will result in saving of around 6 months’ time, which was earlier required for obtaining of prospecting
license by the agency.
By expanding the pool of authorized prospecting agencies, the Government aims to harness private sector
resources, promote efficiency, competitiveness, and technological innovation in the exploration
ecosystem.
This step is expected to significantly accelerate the pace of exploration and enable early enhancement of
mining contributing to faster resource development and enhance coal and lignite availability for the
country, contributing enhanced availability of coal and lignite to meet the nation’s growing energy needs.
The Government of India remains committed to fostering a transparent, efficient, and future-ready mineral
exploration framework that strengthens national energy security and drives economic growth.
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Shuhaib T
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2195743) आगंतुक पटल : 1801
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