Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 let coal company boards approve mine openings
The Centre notified the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 on 23 December 2025, removing the need for prior permission from the Coal Controller's Organisation to open a coal mine or seam.
Summary
The Ministry of Coal notified the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 on 23 December 2025, amending Rule 9 of the Colliery Control Rules, 2004 to remove the requirement of prior permission from the Coal Controller's Organisation (CCO) for opening a coal or lignite mine, seam or section of a seam. Under the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, the board of the coal company will approve such openings after all required Central, State and statutory approvals are in place, and must inform the CCO; entities other than companies will still need CCO approval. The Ministry said the change could cut up to two months from operationalising a mine.
Key facts
- Notified
- 23 December 2025
- Amends
- Rule 9, Colliery Control Rules, 2004
- Removed
- Prior opening permission from the Coal Controller's Organisation
- New approver
- Board of the coal company (after statutory approvals)
- Non-companies
- Still through CCO
- Benefit
- Up to 2 months saved in operationalising a mine
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Under the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025, who now approves the opening of a coal mine or seam by a coal company?
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Correct answer: C — Board of the concerned coal company
PIB 2208844: the authority to approve mine/seam opening has been vested with the board of the concerned coal company; prior CCO permission is dispensed with.
Consider the following statements about the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025: 1. They amend Rule 9 of the Colliery Control Rules, 2004. 2. Entities other than companies no longer need any approval to open a mine. 3. The company must submit information about mine opening to the Coal Controller's Organisation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only
PIB 2208844: Rule 9 of the 2004 Rules was amended and companies must inform the CCO. For entities other than companies, approval continues to be through the CCO, so statement 2 is wrong.