The Ministry of Coal will launch the 16th Round of Commercial Coal Mine Auctions on 17th September 2026 in New Delhi. Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Government of India, will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Commercial coal mining was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2020. Over the past six years, across fifteen completed rounds, 147 coal mines have been successfully auctioned, bringing 44 new companies into the sector. The auctioned mines are expected to generate annual revenue of approximately Rs 47,500 crore, attract capital investment of nearly Rs 55,000 crore, and create around 4.9 lakh employment opportunities across coal-bearing states.
The 16th round will offer a fresh set of fully explored and partially explored coal blocks. The framework continues to operate under the most liberal terms, with no end-use restrictions, 100 percent FDI permitted through the automatic route, and low upfront payments adjustable against future revenue share. These provisions are designed to keep entry accessible for smaller and first-time bidders while remaining competitive for established mining companies and technology-driven enterprises.
The commercial coal mine auction programme has steadily increased domestic coal production and availability, reduced dependence on imports, and supported the broader objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The 16th round is expected to carry this progress forward by bringing additional coal blocks into production, generating further employment, and attracting new investment into the sector.
The Ministry of Coal remains committed to ensuring a reliable and affordable energy supply for the nation in line with India's long-term energy security goals.