Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025

The Union Government has notified the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025, amending the Colliery Control Rules, 2004 to simplify and expedite approvals for opening coal and lignite mines.

Rationale for the Amendment

• The amendment reflects the changing policy environment following the introduction of commercial coal mining and increased private sector participation since 2020.
• With multiple statutory clearances already required under mining, environmental, and safety laws, the prior CCO permission had become largely duplicative, adding to regulatory friction without proportionate governance gains.
• Shift from a permission-based regime to an accountability-based model, with responsibility fixed at the highest corporate level.
• Make the coal sector more business-friendly while maintaining statutory compliance.

India’s Coal Sector

• Global Position : India possesses the fifth-largest coal reserves in the world and is the second-largest consumer of coal.
  • This reflects coal’s continued importance in meeting India’s energy and industrial requirements, particularly for power generation and core industries.
• Coal Reserve:  According to the National Coal Inventory of 2023, published by Geological Survey of India, India’s total estimated coal reserves stood at about 378.21billion tonnes as of April 2023
• Geographical Distribution: Coal reserves in India are highly concentrated geographically. The states of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh together account for nearly 69 per cent of the country’s total coal reserves.

• Legal and Policy Framework: The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 remains the core legislation governing coal mining eligibility in India. 
• Reforms and Private Sector Participation:
  • In 2014, India introduced an auction-based coal allocation regime, allowing private sector participation; however, mining was restricted to captive use for their own end-use plants such as power, steel, or cement. 
  • A major policy shift occurred in 2020, when the government opened up commercial coal mining to private players, marking a significant step towards sectoral liberalisation and competition.
• Types of Coal Found in India:
• • Anthracite: It is the highest-grade coal with a very high fixed carbon content but is found in limited quantities. 
  • Bituminous coal:  A medium-grade coal with high calorific value, it is the most widely used for electricity generation. 
  • Sub-bituminous coal:  It is dull black in appearance and has a higher heating value than lignite. 
  • Lignite: The lowest grade coal, has the least carbon content and is mainly used near mine-mouth power plants due to its low energy density.

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Significance of Coal in India’s Development

• Continued Relevance in Energy Transition: Projections indicate that coal will account for nearly 55% of electricity generation by 2030 and about 27% by 2047, underscoring its transitional role in ensuring energy reliability.
• Primary Source of Power Generation: As of November 2024, coal-based power plants constituted 46.88 per cent of India’s total installed power generation capacity.
  • Coal plays a vital role in addressing India’s rapidly growing electricity demand. According to the International Energy Agency, India’s electricity consumption is projected to triple by 2050.
• Support to Core Industries: The steel industry derives nearly 8% of its energy needs from coal, while the cement sector relies on coal for around 5%, making it indispensable for infrastructure and manufacturing growth.
• Employment Generation: Coal mining remains a major source of direct employment, providing livelihoods to nearly five lakh mine workers across more than 350 coal mines in the country.

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