The Ministry of Coal's Nominated Authority opened the bids for the 14th round of commercial coal blocks auction on 23 December, 2025, receiving strong participation from industry stakeholders.

The auction witnessed strong participation, with bids received for 24 out of 41 offered coal blocks. A total of 49 bids were submitted by 11 companies, including five new entrants, marking a significant boost to India’s coal mining sector. The process was conducted with full transparency, as both online and offline bid documents were opened in the presence of bidders, and the entire process was displayed live. The ongoing interest in these auctions highlights the growing confidence in India’s commercial coal mining framework and its potential to fuel economic growth.

The Ministry of Coal will now evaluate the bids through a multi-disciplinary Technical Evaluation Committee. Qualified bidders will be shortlisted for the next phase, the electronic auction on the MSTC portal. As India aims to become the world’s third-largest economy, the coal sector remains a vital contributor to industrial development.