The Ministry of Coal has notified the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 simplifying approvals for opening coal and lignite mines under the Colliery Control Rules, 2004. The amendment improves mine operations by removing procedural redundancies and retaining regulatory oversight.
Coal company boards can now approve the opening of a mine, seam or section of seam, replacing the earlier requirement of prior approval from the Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO).
A coal company board can approve such openings after obtaining required approvals from central and/or state authorities. Companies must inform the CCO about the approval within 15 days. Other entities still require approval from the CCO.
The amended provision also applies to resuming or commencing operations in a mine, seam or section of a seam where mining has not been done for 180 days or more.
The new rules are expected to improve efficiency, accelerate coal production and foster a more business-friendly coal industry ecosystem in India. Delegating operational decisions to the company board means it has the responsibility for compliance with the law and approval timelines are reduced.
The amendment took effect on 23 December 2025.
