In September 2025, the Ministry of Coal organised the Star Rating Award Ceremony for 2023-24, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to honour outstanding coal and lignite mines for their exceptional performance in safety, environmental sustainability, and operational excellence.
- Union Minister Gangapuram (G.) Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Coal attended the event as Chief Guest, along with Union Minister of State (MoS) Satish Chandra Dubey, Ministry of Coal ; and Vikram Dev, Secretary, Ministry of Coal.
Exam Hints:
- What? Star Rating Award Ceremony for 2023-24
- Organised by: Ministry of Coal
- Where? Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Mines Surveyed: 383
- 2023-24 Start Rating: 5-Star Mines: 42 (≥93%);4 mines – 1st Rank; 3 mines – 2nd Rank; 6 mines – 3rd Rank
- Key Initiatives Launched: CCO web portal, Interactive Dashboard and two frameworks, L.I.V.E.S’ and ‘ARTHA’,
About Star Rating Awards:
Introduction: The Ministry of Coal introduced the Star Rating framework in 2019, to promote competitiveness and responsible mining.
Modules: The performances of the mines are evaluated on 7 modules: mining operation-related parameters; environment; adoption of technology and best mining practices; economic performances; rehabilitation and resettlement, employees/workers compliance; and safety and security.
Rating Scale: The ratings are awarded on a scale from 5-Star to No-Star, based on the holistic assessment of each mine’s performance.
Categories: The ratings are given across 3 main categories of mines i.e. Underground Mines (UG), Opencast Mines (OC) and Mixed Mines.
Highlights of Star Rating Award Ceremony for 2023-24:
Award Presentation: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy presented the 5-Star awards to the top-performing mines that have performed-well in key parameters such as: safety, environmental management, scientific mining, productivity and community welfare.
Total Mines Surveyed: MoC surveyed a total of 383 mines for the star rating for year 2023-24.
Distribution: Out of 383 mines surveyed, 42 mines have received 5-star rating i.e. scoring more than 93%.
- Further, among these 42 mines, 4 mines secured 1st rank, 3 mines secured 2nd rank, and 6 mines achieved 3rd rank, while the remaining 29 mines received the Achievers prize.
NLCIL : NLC India Limited (NLCIL), (formerly known as Neyveli Lignite Corporation), a ‘Navratna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under MoC, has maintained its leadership in two key parameters such as sustainable mining and operational excellence, with all its operating mines receiving Star Ratings for year 2023-24.
- Neyveli’s Lignite Mine-IA, NLCIL’s Talabira II & II OCP (Odisha) and Rajasthan’s Barsingsar Lignite Mine, received 5-star ratings.
- While, NLCIL’s Lignite Mine-I and Lignite Mine-II achieved 4-star ratings.
Note: Since 2018-19, 5 operating mines of NLCIL have together achieved 29 Star Ratings, including 21distinguished 5-star recognitions.
Other Notable Winners:
Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL): Four mines: RG OC-1 Extension (Ramagundam Open Cast-1 Extension), JK-5 OC (Jayasankar-5 Open Cast), RK-6 (Ramagundam Khani-6 Underground), and RK-Newtech (Ramagundam Khani-Newtech Underground), received prestigious 5-Star Ratings for their outstanding performance.
TG Genco (Telangana Power Genco): The Tadicherla-1 Open Cast Mine won both the Best Safety Practices award and a 5-Star Rating.
Odisha Coal & Power Ltd (OCPL): The Manoharpur Mines earned a 5-Star Rating for the fourth consecutive year.
Click Here to View Star Rating of Coal & Mines for the Year 2023-24
Key Initiatives:
Digital Initiatives: During the award ceremony, the Ministry of Coal inaugurated the newly designed Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) website as well as an Interactive Dashboard, aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and accessibility of information for stakeholders.
Winners of Hackathon : Apart from Star Ratings Awards, awards were also presented to the winners of the Hackathon on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), and Research & Development (R&D).
Frameworks: Two important frameworks, ‘Learning, Innovation, Vision, Environment, and Sustainability(L.I.V.E.S)’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Reclamation and Transformation for Holistic Assets(ARTHA)’, were launched during the event.
- L.I.V.E.S.: It is a comprehensive guide designed for practitioners to serve as a benchmark for responsible and sustainable mine closures in alignment with global best practices.
- ARTHA: It is a Green Financing Framework, aimed at making investments towards transforming reclaimed mines into productive and eco-friendly assets.
About Ministry of Coal:
Union Minister- Gangapuram (G.) Kishan Reddy (Constituency- Secunderabad,Telangana)
Minister of State (MoS)- Satish Chandra Dubey (Rajya Sabha – Bihar)
