Ministry of Coal (MoC) issues notice for public consultation on revised timelines & efficiency parameters for coal mine operationalization. Submit comments by March 3, 2026. Check details.
The Ministry of Coal (MoC), Government of India, has issued a crucial notice dated 16th February 2026, announcing a public consultation on the proposed revisions to milestones and their timelines within the Efficiency Parameters of the Coal Mine/Block Development and Production Agreement (CMDPA/CBDPA). This initiative is a significant step towards enhancing the ease of doing business and expediting the operationalization of coal mines across the country, aligning with national goals of energy security and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
What Changed/Proposed
The Ministry of Coal has constituted a committee of industry experts to review existing milestones and stipulated timelines for the CMDPA/CBDPA. Based on their recommendations, the Ministry has proposed new timelines and amendments for incorporation into the Efficiency Parameters of the Agreement. These revisions are detailed in Annexure I of the official notice, outlining updated completion times and performance security appropriation percentages for various stages of coal mine development.
Key Policy Initiatives for Expedited Operationalization
The Ministry has already undertaken several key policy initiatives to streamline processes and reduce operationalization timelines. These include:
- Prospecting Licence (PL) Reforms: Allowing accredited private agencies to conduct exploration without prior PL, saving 6-8 months.
- Geological Report (GR) Approvals: Introducing a new evaluation methodology that eliminates the need for GR approval, reducing timelines by 2-3 months.
- Mine Opening Permission: Amendments to rules vesting approval with the company’s Board, saving 1-2 months.
- Coking Coal Status: Notifying Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral, providing exemptions like waiver of public hearings for EC and degraded forest land for Compensatory Afforestation, reducing operationalization time by 4-5 months.
- Single Window Clearance System (SWCS): Implementing end-to-end online processing for Mining Plan and Mine Closure Plan.
Additionally, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has introduced measures to streamline forest permissions and Environment/Forest Clearances (EC/FC), including integration of Consent to Establish (CTE) with EC, delegation of powers to SEIAA, online processing via PARIVESH 2.0, and exemption for certain pilot projects, among others.
Revised Efficiency Parameters & Timelines (Summary from Annexure I)
The proposed amendments introduce new completion times and performance security appropriation for delays across various milestones. Here’s a summary of the key revisions:
| Milestone (MS) No. | Main Activity | Proposed Completion Time | Performance Security for Delay (Fully Explored Mines) | Performance Security for Delay (Partially Explored Mines) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS-1 | Completion of Drilling/Exploration (in accordance with Clause 14) | Within 12 months from date of allocation (Additional 3 months, if drilling meterage > 50,000m) | Not Applicable | 0% |
| MS-1 | Preparation & Vetting of Geological Report (GR) | After 12 months up to 21 months from date of allocation (25% additional after 21 months) | Not Applicable | 25% (cumulative) |
| MS-2 | Approval of Mining Plan/Project Report | 5 months from the completion of previous MS | 10% | 25% (cumulative from MS-1) |
| MS-3 | Environment Clearance (EC) | 16 months from the completion of previous MS | 10% | Not specified (not a ‘Main Activity’ for appropriation) |
| MS-5 | Mine Opening Permission / Board Approval | 3 months from the completion of previous MS | 25% | 25% |
Note: Only activities designated as ‘Main Activity’ with an assigned percentage of performance security appropriation will be monitored for that purpose.
Reason for Change
The revisions are driven by the Government’s vision to encourage early operationalization of coal blocks, enhance energy security, and foster an ‘Ease of Doing Business’ environment. By removing bottlenecks in the clearance processes and providing structured timelines, the Ministry aims to accelerate the commencement of mining operations and boost domestic coal production to meet the nation’s growing energy demand.
Action Required from Stakeholders
All interested stakeholders are invited to submit their comments and suggestions on the proposed amendments to the milestones and their timelines. This public consultation is vital for ensuring comprehensive feedback is considered before finalization.
How to Submit Comments
- By Email: Send your comments/suggestions in MS-Office Word format to nomauthority.moc@nic.in and arvind.kumar70@nic.in. The subject of the email should be: “Comments/Suggestions on the proposed efficiency parameter timelines”.
- By Post: Alternatively, comments can be sent to the Under Secretary (NA section), Ministry of Coal, Room no 120, F-wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110001. The envelope should be superscribed with: “Comments/Suggestions on the proposed efficiency parameter timelines”.
Important Dates & Contact Information
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Notice | 16th February 2026 |
| Last Date for Submitting Comments | March 3, 2026 (within 15 days of notice publication) |
| Official Website | For further details, refer to the official website of the Ministry of Coal. |
| Email for Comments | nomauthority.moc@nic.in, arvind.kumar70@nic.in |
| Postal Address for Comments | Under Secretary (NA section), Ministry of Coal, Room no 120, F-wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110001 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the purpose of this public consultation?
The consultation aims to gather feedback from all stakeholders on the proposed revisions to coal mine operationalization milestones and timelines. This ensures that the final parameters are robust, practical, and beneficial for all parties involved, while accelerating coal production.
Who can submit comments/suggestions?
Any individual, organization, or entity involved in or affected by coal mining operations, policy, or related sectors can submit comments. This includes allottees, industry experts, environmental groups, and government agencies.
What format should the comments be in?
Comments should be submitted in MS-Office Word format via email or as a written submission via post.
What happens after the consultation period?
The Ministry of Coal will review all submitted comments and suggestions. These will be considered by the relevant committees, and suitable amendments will be incorporated into the final Efficiency Parameters of the CMDPA/CBDPA.
How will my feedback be used?
Your feedback is crucial for refining the proposed timelines and ensuring they are practical and effective. It helps the Ministry make informed decisions that balance the ease of doing business with environmental and regulatory requirements.
What are CMDPA/CBDPA?
CMDPA stands for Coal Mine Development and Production Agreement, and CBDPA stands for Coal Block Development and Production Agreement. These are agreements that establish a structured, milestone-based framework for commercial mine allottees, linking performance security to scheduled timelines for mine operationalization.
Why is the Ministry of Coal revising these timelines?
The revisions are part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance energy security, boost domestic coal production, and improve the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ environment in the mining sector. The aim is to remove bottlenecks, reduce delays, and encourage early operationalization of coal mines.