New Delhi: The Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, on Tuesday opened bids for the 14th round of Commercial Coal Blocks’ Auction, with encouraging participation from industry stakeholders. Bids were received for 24 coal blocks out of the 41 blocks offered, reflecting sustained interest in India’s commercial coal mining framework.

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The online bids were decrypted and opened electronically in the presence of bidders, followed by the opening of sealed envelopes containing offline bid documents, also in their presence. The entire process was displayed live on screen, ensuring complete transparency. Under this round, 49 bids were received against 24 coal blocks out of 41.

A total of 11 companies participated, including five new entrants bidding for the first time under the commercial coal mining regime. This participation highlights growing confidence in the policy framework and expanding opportunities in India’s coal sector, which remains a key driver of economic momentum as the country advances towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

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The bids will now be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary Technical Evaluation Committee, with technically qualified bidders shortlisted for the electronic auction on the MSTC portal. The continued response underscores the coal sector’s role in industrial growth, energy security, and India’s economic ambitions.