TFP Bureau, Mumbai, September 3, 2025: The Ministry of Coal is set to host the prestigious Star Rating Awards Ceremony for Coal and Lignite Mines on September 4, 2025, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The event will celebrate exceptional performance by coal and lignite mines across India in areas such as operational excellence, environmental stewardship, safety, worker welfare, and community development.
Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, will preside over the function as the Chief Guest, while Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, will also be present. The ceremony will be attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Coal, executives from coal PSUs, industry stakeholders, and representatives from mining regions.
The Star Rating System, instituted by the Ministry, is aimed at promoting responsible mining and encouraging the adoption of global best practices. Mines are assessed under a structured framework covering seven key modules: mining operations, environmental performance, adoption of technology, economic results, rehabilitation and resettlement, worker compliance, and safety and security standards. Ratings are awarded on a scale ranging from Five Star to No Star across three mining categories—Underground, Opencast, and Mixed.
For the 2023–24 assessment year, 383 mines underwent evaluation, of which 42 secured the coveted Five Star Rating by scoring above 93 percent. Among them, four mines achieved first rank, three mines secured second rank, six attained third rank, while 29 mines received the Achievers Prize. The recognition highlights their contribution towards ensuring energy security while maintaining high levels of safety and sustainability.
The ceremony will also feature the unveiling of several landmark initiatives in the coal sector. These include the launch of the redesigned Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) website with an interactive dashboard, the presentation of awards for the Hackathon on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), the release of ARTHA—a green financing framework for the repurposing of de-coaled mines, and L.I.V.E.S., a comprehensive practitioner’s guide for sustainable mine closure.
Officials said these initiatives mark a significant step towards aligning India’s coal sector with the broader goals of environmental responsibility and energy transition. By encouraging best practices, the Ministry aims to build a coal mining industry that is not only productive but also future-ready, sustainable, and socially accountable.
The Star Rating Awards are expected to reinforce industry confidence, motivate mine operators to maintain high standards, and strengthen the government’s vision of a safe, sustainable, and self-reliant coal sector that balances energy security with ecological concerns.
