National 03 November 2026
Ministry of Coal Hosts Star Rating Awards FY 2024-25: 50 Coal Mines Secure Five-Star Ratings
Why in the News?
The Ministry of Coal hosted the Annual Star Rating Awards Ceremony for FY 2024-25 in **Raipur, Chhattisgarh**, to recognize excellence in India's coal and lignite mining sector. Graced by Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, **Shri Satish Chandra Dubey**, a total of **50 coal mines were awarded Five-Star Ratings**.
Key Features / Major Points:
- Top Performing Mines & Categories:
- Out of 50 Five-Star rated mines, 10 mines secured top three positions in their respective categories with scores exceeding 93%.
- **Opencast Category:** Northern Coalfields Limited (**NCL**) and **NTPC** secured First Prize.
- **Underground Category:** Singareni Collieries Company Limited (**SCCL**) clinched First Prize.
- **Special Appreciation:** Western Coalfields Limited (**WCL**) was recognized for producing the highest number of 5-Star rated mines among all Coal India Limited (CIL) subsidiaries.
- Hackathon on R&D 2026 Felicitation:
- Winners of the Hackathon on R&D 2026 under the theme **“NextGen AI for Smart Mining”** were awarded.
- Key winners included CSIR-NEERI (Nagpur), Technowave Solutions Pvt Ltd in association with IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, CSIR-CLRI (Chennai), and CSIR-CMERI (Durgapur) consortiums.
- Strategic Focus:
- Promotes safety, environmental sustainability, land restoration, AI adoption, scientific mining practices, and community welfare across the coal sector.
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Static GK Facts:
- Ministry of Coal:
- Union Cabinet Minister: **G. Kishan Reddy** | Minister of State: **Satish Chandra Dubey** | Additional Secretary: **Sanoj Kumar Jha**.
- Coal India Limited (CIL):
- Established: **1975** | Headquarters: **Kolkata, West Bengal** (Maharatna PSU).
- Major Coal Fields in India:
- Jharia (Jharkhand - largest coal reserve), Raniganj (West Bengal - oldest coalfield), Singrauli (MP/UP).
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: Where did the Ministry of Coal host the Annual Star Rating Awards Ceremony for FY 2024-25?
A: Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Q: How many coal mines received Five-Star Ratings under the Star Rating Programme for FY 2024-25?
A: 50 Mines
Q: Which entity bagged the First Prize in the Underground mining category at the Star Rating Awards?
A: Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)
Q: What was the central theme of the Hackathon on R&D 2026 recognized during the event?
A: "NextGen AI for Smart Mining"
#MinistryOfCoal #StarRatingAwards #CoalMining #NCL #NTPC #SCCL #WCL #CurrentAffairs #StaticGK