On April 17, 2026, the Ministry of Coal launched the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions at an event in Mumbai, coupling the launch with a stakeholder consultation themed "Atmanirbhar Bharat: Coal for Energy Security." Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt led the proceedings and engaged with prospective bidders, technology providers and State government officials. The 15th round offers a mix of fully explored and partially explored coal blocks under liberalised terms intended to enhance ease of doing business and broaden participation among new entrants and technology-focused companies. The Ministry highlighted that the commercial mining framework, introduced in 2020, has progressively raised transparency, competition, and private-sector participation, and is now central to India's drive to reduce thermal coal imports while sustaining baseload supply during the renewable transition. The stakeholder consultation discussed bidding norms, mine-development time-lines, environmental clearances, just-transition concerns in coal-bearing districts, and the use of advanced technology — including digital mining, automation and emissions monitoring — in upcoming projects. The Ministry positioned the 15th round as a continuation of efforts that have together resulted in successful auctions across the previous 14 rounds, generating large revenue streams for coal-bearing States and supporting India's electricity security objectives. The launch event also served as a forum to outline the Ministry's medium-term roadmap for coal as a transition fuel.