**Executive Summary**
On May 14, 2026, the Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines reviewed the performance of CMPDIL and oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CMPDIL and MECL in Ranchi. The review covered operational achievements for 2025-26 and established targets for 2026-27, emphasizing clean coal technologies and critical mineral exploration. Key directives were issued to simplify procurement and transform closed mines into sustainable socio-economic hubs to support the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" vision.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Performance Review and Future Targets**
* Reviewed CMPDIL’s 2025-26 performance across exploration, report preparation, capital expenditure (capex), R&D projects, CSR initiatives, and solar projects.
* Established operational and performance targets for the upcoming 2026-27 period.
**Strategic Mandates and Process Improvements**
* Emphasized the strategic importance of clean coal technologies and the exploration of critical minerals for national energy and economic security.
* Instructed CMPDIL management to simplify procurement processes and enhance transparency.
* Directed the improvement of market outreach to increase bidder participation and prevent project delays.
**Sustainable Mine Closure and Community Development**
* Proposed transforming mine closure activities into socio-economic opportunities, such as fisheries and Fox Nut (Makhana) cultivation.
* Aligned reclaimed mining area projects with the Government's "One District, One Product" (ODOP) initiative.
* Focused on converting abandoned sites into agricultural and aquacultural assets to provide long-term economic support to local populations.
**Inter-Agency Collaboration (MoU)**
* Signed an MoU between CMPDIL and MECL on May 14, 2026, to foster cooperation in the exploration of energy and non-energy minerals.
* Aims to enhance the national inventory of minerals and facilitate the development of new mines to promote self-reliance in the mineral sector.
**Impact Analysis**
**CMPDIL (Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited)**
**Impact**
Subject to revised operational targets and a mandate to modernize administrative processes.
**Action Required**
Must simplify procurement, increase transparency, and implement market outreach to boost bidder participation; execute collaborative exploration under the new MoU.
**MECL (Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited)**
**Impact**
Formalized as a primary partner for CMPDIL in mineral exploration activities.
**Action Required**
Collaborate with CMPDIL to explore energy and non-energy minerals and contribute to the national mineral inventory.
**Local Communities**
**Impact**
Potential for long-term economic support through the repurposing of abandoned mines.
**Action Required**
Engage with agricultural and aquacultural opportunities (fisheries and Fox Nut cultivation) provided through reclaimed land initiatives.
**Coal and Mining Sector**
**Impact**
Enhanced focus on "Atmanirbhar Bharat" through increased self-reliance and strategic mineral exploration.
**Action Required**
Adopt clean coal technologies and prioritize the development of new mines to ensure national economic security.
Key Entities Referenced
CMPDIL (Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited): A premier exploration agency under the Ministry of Coal whose performance was reviewed and which signed an MoU for mineral exploration cooperation.
MECL (Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited): An exploration agency that signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CMPDIL to facilitate joint coal and mineral exploration activities.
One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative: A government scheme identified to transform abandoned mining sites into productive socio-economic assets for local communities.
Satish Chandra Dubey: Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines who chaired the performance review and overseen the strategic partnership between exploration agencies.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: The national vision for self-reliance under which the mineral exploration initiative and sector growth are aligned.
Ministry of Coal
Union Minister of State for Coal & Mines reviews
CMPDIL
CMPDIL and MECL Signs MoU for Mineral Exploration to
facilitate cooperation between the two premier exploration
agencies in the field of coal and mineral exploration.
Posted On: 15 MAY 2026 12:10PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Shri Satish Chandra Dubey chaired a meeting to review the
performance of CMPDI on 14.05.2026 at Ranchi. The review meeting was attended by Shri Chaudhari
Shivraj Singh, CMD, CMPDI; CMD, CCL, Shri Nilendu Kumar Singh; CMD, MECL Shri I. D. Narayan.
Technical Directors of CMPDI alongwith Senior officials from CMPDI, CCL and MECL.
During the review, performance of CMPDI in various areas of operations like exploration, report
preparation, capex, R&D projects, CSR initiatives, solar projects during 2025-26 was presented alongwith
targets for 2026-27.
Minister appreciated CMPDI’s performance and emphasized the importance of clean coal technologies,
alongwith the strategic exploration of critical minerals, essential for the nation's future energy and
economic security CMD, CCL, Shri Nilendu Kumar Singh; CMD, MECL Shri I. D. Narayan. CMPDI
management was instructed to simplify procurement processes, enhance transparency, and improve market
outreach to prevent project delays for large number of bidder participation.Minister highlighted the need to transform mine closure activities into sustainable socio-economic
opportunities for local communities in promoting the cultivation of Fox Nuts (Makhana) and fisheries in
these reclaimed areas to align it with the Government's "One District, One Product" (ODOP) initiative,
this visionary approach aims to convert abandoned mining sites into productive agricultural and
aquacultural assets, ensuring long-term, sustainable economic support for local people.
In the meeting, CMPDIL (Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with MECL (Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited) on 14.05.2026 to
facilitate cooperation between the two premier exploration agencies in the field of coal and mineral
exploration for energy and non-energy minerals in the presence of Minister of State for Coal & Mines Shri
Satish Chandra Dubey.The collaborative exploration activities are expected to enhance the national
inventory of coal and other minerals and facilitate the development of new mines in the country.
The initiative marks an important step towards the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by contributing to the
growth of India’s mineral wealth and promoting self-reliance in the mineral sector.****
Shuhaib T
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