Ministry of Coal to Host Star Rating Awards Ceremony for Coal & Lignite Mines on September 4 in Mumbai
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy to lead recognition of excellence in responsible mining practices
The Ministry of Coal will host the prestigious Star Rating Awards Ceremony for Coal and Lignite Mines on September 4, 2025, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The event will honor coal and lignite mines across the country for excellence in operational performance, environmental stewardship, safety, and community development.
Union Minister of Coal & Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, will grace the occasion as Chief Guest, while Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, will also attend. Senior officials from the Ministry, representatives of coal PSUs, and other industry stakeholders will be present.
The Star Rating system, instituted by the Ministry of Coal, is designed to recognize and incentivize responsible mining practices. It evaluates mines across seven modules:
- Mining Operations
- Environmental Parameters
- Adoption of Technology & Best Practices
- Economic Performance
- Rehabilitation & Resettlement
- Worker-Related Compliance
- Safety & Security
Mines are rated on a scale from Five Star to No Star across three categories: Underground, Opencast, and Mixed.
For the assessment year 2023–24, a total of 383 mines participated in the Star Rating evaluation. Out of these, 42 mines earned the prestigious Five Star Rating by scoring over 93%. Among them, 4 mines secured first rank, 3 mines were placed second, 6 mines bagged third, and 29 mines received the Achievers Prize.
The ceremony will also witness the launch of the redesigned Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) website with an interactive dashboard, along with awards for the Hackathon on Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS). In addition, the Ministry will release two key initiatives:
- ARTHA – a green financing framework for repurposing de-coaled mines.
- L.I.V.E.S – a practitioner’s guide for sustainable mine closure.
The event underscores the Ministry’s commitment to promoting innovation and sustainability in the coal sector. By recognizing high-performing mines, the initiative aims to encourage the adoption of best practices, reinforce energy security, and enhance community welfare while steering India’s coal mining industry towards a more responsible and future-ready path.
