Six coal blocks auctioned in 15th commercial round
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The Coal Ministry auctioned six coal blocks in the 15th round and the second attempt of the 13th round of commercial auctions, it said on 4 August 2026. Forward auctions ran on 3 and 4 August. The blocks hold about 1,503.93 million tonnes of geological reserves, with peak rated capacity of 11.62 MTPA. Since 2020, 147 blocks have been auctioned.
- Released
- 4 Aug 2026, Ministry of Coal
- Rounds
- 15th round and 2nd attempt of 13th round (launched 17 Apr 2026)
- Blocks
- 6: 4 fully explored, 2 partially explored
- Reserves
- about 1,503.93 MT; PRC 11.62 MTPA
- Expected
- ₹1,983.67 crore annual revenue; ₹1,743 crore investment; 15,710 jobs
- Since 2020
- 147 blocks; 377.974 MT a year capacity
Commercial coal block auctions: what happened?
Commercial coal mining began in 2020, and blocks are now offered in regular auction rounds. Each block has a reserve price, given as a percentage, and bidders compete on their final offer percentage. The highest final offer this time was 37.50 per cent, for Tara (Revised) in Chhattisgarh.
- Blocks were in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh (2), Jharkhand (2) and Chhattisgarh.
- Dip Side Ext. of PKOC (Telangana) went to Singareni Collieries at a 6.50% final offer.
- Margo West and Margo East (Jharkhand) went to the Jharkhand Exploration and Mining Corporation.
- All 147 blocks auctioned so far are estimated to yield ₹48,215 crore a year and 4,89,552 jobs.
How to read an auction result?
- Reserve price is the floor, given as a percentage.
- Final offer is the winning bid percentage.
- Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) is the most coal a block can produce in a year.
Why does commercial coal block auctions matter?
- Energy security: More domestic coal blocks support self-reliance.
- State revenue: Coal-bearing States gain revenue and jobs.
What can Prelims ask on commercial coal block auctions?
- Commercial coal mining began in 2020; 147 blocks auctioned so far.
- Aug 2026: six blocks, 1,503.93 MT reserves, 11.62 MTPA.
- Highest final offer: Tara (Revised), Chhattisgarh, 37.50%.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-08-04): six coal blocks (4 fully, 2 partially explored) were auctioned under the 15th round and 2nd attempt of 13th round; forward auctions held 3–4 Aug 2026.
- More domestic coal blocks mean fewer imports.
Quotable data pointSix coal blocks (4 fully, 2 partially explored) were auctioned under the 15th round and 2nd attempt of 13th round.
PIB: Coal: six blocks auctioned, 4 Aug 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: commercial coal mining.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Commercial coal mining through auctions in India began in
Answer (c) & explanation
PIB (Coal), 4 Aug 2026.
Questions students ask about this
How many coal blocks were auctioned in August 2026?
Six: four fully explored and two partially explored.
How many blocks have been auctioned since commercial mining began?
147 blocks since 2020, with capacity of 377.974 million tonnes a year.
Which block drew the highest final offer?
Tara (Revised) in Chhattisgarh, at 37.50 per cent.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: Coal: six blocks auctioned, 4 Aug 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending