PM Modi launches auction process of 41 coal blocks for commercial mining

Published By : Admin | June 18, 2020 | 10:23 IST
Coronavirus pandemic taught a lesson and the country will use it to cut down on its imports: PM
If India is the fourth largest coal producer in the world, then why can't we become the largest exporter, asks PM Modi
With the coal auction process, states will earn extra revenue: PM Modi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the auction process of 41 coal blocks for commercial mining through video conference from here today. It was part of the series of announcements made by the Government of India, under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The Coal Ministry in association with FICCI launched the process for auction of these coal mines. A two stage electronic auction process is being adopted for allocation of the coal mines.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Narendra Modi said that India will overcome the COVID -19 Pandemic and the nation will turn this crisis into an opportunity. He said that this crisis has taught India the lesson of becoming AatmaNirbhar, i.e. Self-Reliant. He said an AatmaNirbhar Bharat means reducing dependency on imports, and saving foreign currency on imports. It entails that India develop resources domestically so that the country does not have to rely on imports. It also means becoming the biggest exporters of the commodities that we now import.

To achieve this, the PM said that each sector, each product, each service, should be kept in mind and worked holistically, to make India self-reliant in the particular area. He said a major step taken today will make India self reliant in the Energy sector. He said that this event marks not only the implementation of reforms concerning one Coal Mining Sector but also marks the beginning of lakhs of employment opportunities for the youth. He said that today we are not only launching the auction of commercial coal mining today but also freeing the coal sector from decades of lockdown.

He stressed the irony that India, with the world’s fourth largest coal reserve and being the second largest producer, is also the second largest coal importer. He said the situation has lasted for decades now and the coal sector was kept entangled in the mesh of Captive and Non Captive mines. He added that the sector was excluded from competition and transparency was a big problem. Owing to this, he said, the coal sector lacked investment and its efficiency was also questionable.

The Prime Minister said that in 2014, coal linkage was introduced to provide impetus to the coal sector. He said that India has taken a major decision to fully open the coal and mining sector for increased competition, capital, participation and technology. He added that care has been taken to ensure that the new players in the private mining sector do not face the problem of finance. He stressed that self-reliance is not possible without a strong mining and mineral sector as the two are important pillars of our economy.

The Prime Minister said that after these reforms, coal production and the entire coal sector will become self-reliant. Now the market has been opened for coal, so, any sector can buy coal as per their requirements. PM said, these reforms will not only benefit the coal sector but other sectors such as Steel, Aluminium, Fertilizers and Cement as well. It will also help in increasing the power generation.

PM said that reforms in the minerals sector have got strength from coal mining reforms since minerals like iron, bauxite and other minerals are located very close to the coal reserves. He said that the beginning of auction today for commercial coal mining is a win-win situation for all stakeholders Industries. State governments will get more revenue and a huge population of the country will get employment. There will be a positive impact on every sector.

While implementing coal reforms, PM said that it has been ensured that India’s commitment to protect the environment doesn’t get weakened. He added, “Latest technology can be introduced to make gas from coal and the environment will be protected with steps like coal gasification. Coal gas will be used in transport and cooking while Urea and steel will promote manufacturing industries.” The Prime Minister said that the Government has set a target to gasify around 100-million-ton coal by the year 2030 and four projects have been identified for this purpose and around 20 thousand crore rupees will be invested.

The Prime Minister said that these coal sector reforms will make eastern and central India, our tribal belt in, pillars of development. He added that These areas have a big number of Aspirational Districts and have not been able to reach the desired level of progress and prosperity. He said that 16 aspirational districts in the country have a huge stock of coal but people of these areas have not got adequate benefit of this. People from these places have to migrate to far-flung cities for employment.

The Prime Minister said that the steps taken towards commercial mining will be very helpful to eastern and central India by providing the local population with employment near their homes. He said that the Government has taken a decision to spend 50 thousand crore rupees on creating infrastructure for coal extraction and transportation, which will also create employment opportunities.

The Prime Minister said that reforms and investment in the coal sector will play a big role in easing the lives of tribals. Extra revenue generated through coal production will be used for public welfare schemes in the region. He said that states will also continue to get help from the District Mineral Fund, from which a major chunk would be utilized in development of essential facilities in the surrounding areas.

The Prime Minister said that this auction is taking place at a time when the economic activity is fast returning to normal. Consumption and demand are fast attaining the pre – Covid-19 levels. He listed the sectors where the demand was fast attaining pre-COVID 19 levels such as power consumption, demand for petroleum products, E way bills, Toll collection, Railway freight traffic, digital retail transactions.

He said that the rural economy has also started improving. He added that the crop area under Kharif cultivation and procurement of wheat has also increased this year. This means more money has gone into the pockets of farmers. All these indicators tell us that the Indian economy is ready to bounce back, and march forward.

The Prime Minister wished that India will come out of this crisis as it had come out of a much bigger crisis in the past. PM exuded confidence that India can become AatmaNirbhar and success and growth of India is certain. He also cited how few weeks ago how most of our demand for N-95 masks, Corona testing kits, PPE, and Ventilators were met by imports are now fulfilled through Make In India. He also expressed his confidence that very soon we will become an important exporter of medical products. He requested people to keep up their faith and morale so that we can make Aatmanirbhar Bharat. 

Click here to read full text speech

Explore More
శ్రీరామ జన్మభూమి ఆలయ ధ్వజారోహణ ఉత్సవం సందర్భంగా ప్రధానమంత్రి ప్రసంగం

ప్రముఖ ప్రసంగాలు

శ్రీరామ జన్మభూమి ఆలయ ధ్వజారోహణ ఉత్సవం సందర్భంగా ప్రధానమంత్రి ప్రసంగం
 PLI schemes attract over Rs 2.16 lakh crore investment, generate 14.39 lakh jobs

Media Coverage

PLI schemes attract over Rs 2.16 lakh crore investment, generate 14.39 lakh jobs
NM on the go

Nm on the go

Always be the first to hear from the PM. Get the App Now!
...
Uttar Pradesh has now emerged as one of the states with the highest number of international airports in India: PM Modi in Jewar
March 28, 2026
The inauguration of Phase-I of Noida International Airport marks a major step in Uttar Pradesh’s growth story and India’s aviation future: PM
UP has now emerged as one of the states with the highest number of international airports in India: PM
Airports are not just basic facilities in any country, they give wings to progress: PM
Our government is making unprecedented investments in modern infrastructure to build a Viksit Bharat: PM

Victory to Mother India!

Victory to Mother India!

Victory to Mother India!

Has the inauguration happened? Has the inauguration happened? No, only half the work is done. I have only removed that curtain, but today I want the inauguration of this airport to be done by all of you who are present here, and therefore, take out your mobile phones, turn on your mobile phone’s flashlight, and you are inaugurating it. By lighting a lamp, every person present here is inaugurating this airport today. This is your property, this is your future, this is your hard work, and therefore its inauguration is also being done by your hands; by saying Victory to Mother India, raising your hands, show the flashlight completely. Victory to Mother India!Victory to Mother India! Victory to Mother India! Many many thanks. Now the inauguration is done.

Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister here Yogi Adityanath ji, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brajesh Pathak, my colleagues in the Central Cabinet Shri Rammohan Naidu ji, Pankaj Chaudhary ji, Chairman of Zurich Airport Joseph Felder ji, other ministers, MPs, MLAs, other dignitaries, and my dear brothers and sisters.

I am seeing, today wherever my eyes are falling, all youth are visible to me, youth filled with enthusiasm, youth filled with passion, because these youth know, this work that is happening, you know, this is work that gives a new flight to the future of young people. Today we are starting a new chapter of the Developed UP-Developed India campaign. The largest state of the country has today become one of the states with the most international airports in the country. And today there are two reasons for pride and happiness for me. One is that you all gave me the privilege of laying the foundation stone of this airport and you all gave me the privilege of the inauguration of this airport as well, but I shared that privilege with you and got the inauguration done by your hands. Second, the Uttar Pradesh which chose me as its representative, the Uttar Pradesh which made me an MP, with its identity, with the identity of that Uttar Pradesh, the name of this grand airport has also been joined.

Friends,

This airport of Noida is going to bring great benefit to this entire region - Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr, Faridabad. It definitely has to happen for India and Uttar Pradesh. This airport is going to bring many new opportunities for the farmers of Western Uttar Pradesh, small and micro industries, and the youth here. From here, aircraft will fly for the world, and simultaneously, it will become a symbol of the flight of developed Uttar Pradesh. I give many many congratulations to Uttar Pradesh, especially to the people of Western Uttar Pradesh, for this grand airport.

Friends,

Today's program is a symbol of India's new mood. You all are seeing how worried the whole world is today. War has been going on in West Asia for a month. Because of the war, a crisis of food items, petrol-diesel-gas, fertilizers, many such essential things has been created all around in many countries. Every country is making some effort or the other to face this crisis, is trying. And our India is also fighting this crisis with full strength, relying on the strength of the countrymen. India has been bringing crude oil and gas in very large quantities from where the war is going on, from the area affected by this war. Therefore, the government is taking every step so that the burden of this crisis does not fall on ordinary families, on our farmer brothers and sisters.

Friends,

Even in this time of crisis, India has continued its rapid development. If I talk only about Western Uttar Pradesh, then in just the last few weeks, this is the fourth big project whose foundation stone has been laid or inauguration has happened. In these few weeks, during this time, the foundation stone of a very big semiconductor factory was laid in Noida; in this same period, the country's first Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat train picked up speed; in this same period, the Meerut Metro was expanded; and in such a short time today, the inauguration of Noida International Airport happened by your hands.

Friends,

All these projects are a grand example of the efforts of the double-engine government for the development of UP. The semiconductor factory is making India self-reliant in technology. Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat rail are giving fast and smart connectivity. And this Jewar airport of ours is connecting the whole of North India to the world. And you just saw in the video, such an airport is being built where a plane will fly every two minutes, a plane will fly every two minutes. Earlier, people of SP had made Noida an ATM for their loot. But today in the BJP government, that same Noida is becoming a powerful engine of UP's development.

Friends,

This airport of Jewar is also a very good example of the work culture of the double-engine government. Now you think, the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji had given approval to this airport in files back in 2003. In 2003, there will be many among you who would not have been born, there will be many people who at that time would have been 25-30 years old, 35 years old and have retired today, but the airport was not built. But Congress at the Center and previous governments here did not even let the foundation of this airport be laid for years. From 2004 to 2014, this airport remained buried in files. When our government was formed, there was the SP government in UP. In the first two-three years, the SP people did not let work happen on this. But as soon as the BJP-NDA government was formed here, the BJP-NDA government was formed in Delhi, then the foundation of Jewar airport was laid, construction also happened, and now it has started as well.

Friends,

Besides the airport, this area is also becoming a hub for two big freight corridors of the country. These freight corridors are special tracks laid for goods trains. Due to this, the connectivity of North India with the seas of Bengal and Gujarat has become better. And Dadri is that place where both these corridors meet each other. Meaning, what farmers grow here, what industries make here, will be able to reach every corner of the world quickly by land and by air route. Due to such multi-modal connectivity, UP is becoming a very big attraction for investors across the world.

Friends,

The Noida which was earlier left to its fate due to superstition, where previous rulers were afraid to come for fear of losing their chair - I remember there was the SP government here and I made a program to come to Noida, so the Chief Minister was so scared that he did not come to that program and people also tried to scare me, "Don't go to Noida Modi ji, you have just become Prime Minister." I said I am going to take the blessings of this land, which will give me the opportunity to serve for a long time. Now that same area is ready to welcome the whole world. This entire region is strengthening the resolution of Self-reliant India.

Friends,

In the economy of this region, farming-agriculture has great importance. Today, I especially express gratitude to those farmer brothers and sisters of mine who have given their lands to make this project a reality. Clap loudly for those farmers friends, clap loudly for my farmer brothers and sisters. My farmer brothers and sisters, only with this contribution of yours, a new era of development is going to start in this entire region. The expansion of modern connectivity happening here will give more strength to the possibilities of food processing in Western UP. Now the agricultural products here will be able to go to world markets in a better way.

Friends,

Here I want to thank my farmer friends for one more thing as well. From the ethanol made from your sugarcane, the dependence of the country on crude oil has reduced. If the production of ethanol did not increase, if its blending in petrol did not increase, the country would have had to import four and a half crore barrels, four and a half crore barrels meaning almost 700 crore liters of crude oil from abroad every year. The hard work of farmers has given such big relief to the country in this time of crisis.

Friends,

With ethanol, the country has benefited, and farmers have also had a very big benefit. Because of this, foreign exchange of about one and a half lakh crore rupees has been saved. Meaning if ethanol were not made, then this money was certain to go abroad. In the past years, so much money has been received by the farmers of the country, has been received by sugarcane farmers.

Friends,

The sugarcane farmers here have also seen those days of earlier times when sugarcane arrears used to remain pending for many many years. But today, with the efforts of the BJP double-engine government, the condition of sugarcane farmers has improved.

Friends,

In any country, an airport is not just a general facility. These airports also give flight to progress. Before the year 2014, there were only 74 airports in the country. Today there are more than 160 airports in the country. Now besides metros, air connectivity is reaching small cities of the country as well. Earlier governments that existed used to believe that air travel should be only for the rich. But the BJP government has made air travel easy for the common Indian. Our government, rapidly expanding the network of airports in Uttar Pradesh, has increased their number to seventeen.

Friends,

It has been the continuous effort of the BJP government that airports are built and fares should also remain within the reach of common families. Therefore, we started the Udan scheme. Because of this scheme, in the last few years, more than one crore sixty lakh countrymen have done air travel at cheap rates by taking tickets from the Udan scheme. And I want to give you one more piece of information. Recently, the Central Government has expanded the Udan scheme further. For this, approval of about 29 thousand crore rupees has been given. In the coming years under this, there is a plan to build 100 new airports and 200 new helipads in small cities. UP will also benefit very much from this.

Friends,

India's aviation sector is progressing and developing with great speed. As new airports are being built in India, similarly the need for new aircraft is also increasing. Therefore, different airlines of the country have given orders for hundreds of new planes. These new facilities, new planes that are coming - the people who fly them, those who provide service in them, those related to maintenance - for every such work, a workforce will be needed in very large numbers. This is a very big opportunity for the youth. Therefore, our government is also expanding the training facilities in the aviation sector.

Friends,

When you buy any vehicle for yourself, you definitely see whether the servicing center of that vehicle-making company is nearby or not. You will be surprised to know that in our country, there were no solid arrangements for servicing of aircraft, meaning their Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. Today even for 85 percent of aircraft in India, one has to send them abroad for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul, meaning MRO, for this work. Therefore, our government has determined that we will make India self-reliant in the MRO sector as well. Now in India itself, MRO facilities are being developed on a very large scale. Today here in Jewar also, the foundation stone of an MRO facility has been laid. When this facility is ready, it will serve domestic and foreign aircraft. From this, the country will also earn, our money will also remain in the country, and the youth will also get many jobs.

Friends,

Today the priority of our government is the convenience of the citizens of the country. The time of the citizen of the country should be saved and there should not be too much burden on his pocket - this is our goal. Modern rail services like Metro and Vande Bharat are being expanded with this very sentiment. Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat rail—how much benefit is happening from this, we all are seeing. Until now, more than two and a half crore people have traveled in Namo Bharat. The journey of Delhi-Meerut which earlier took hours is now being completed in minutes.

Friends,

Our government is making unprecedented investment in the developed modern infrastructure of developed India. In the last 11 years, the budget for infrastructure has been increased by more than six times. In these years, 17 lakh crore rupees have been spent on highways and expressways; more than one lakh kilometers of highways have been constructed. Until 2014, electrification of only 20 thousand kilometers of route had happened in railways. Whereas after 2014, electrification of more than 40 thousand kilometers of railway track has been done. Today almost 100 percent electrification of the broad gauge network has been done. Today be it Kashmir Valley or the capitals of North East, these are connecting to the rail network for the first time. The capacity of ports, meaning harbors, has more than doubled in the last decade. The number of river waterways in the country is also continuously increasing. India is working rapidly in every field necessary for the building of developed India.

Friends,

For making developed India, everyone's effort is very important. It is necessary that 140 crore countrymen do the hardest of hard work and face global crises by staying united. How to face the crises created by the war currently going on, I have told about this in detail in the Parliament too. I also had a long discussion yesterday with all the Chief Ministers of the country and a very positive discussion happened. I will say again today to all of you public-gods (janata-janardan), I will say again to the countrymen. We have to face this crisis with a calm mind, with patience, with unity, and by joining together. This is a crisis that creates trouble in the whole world. We have to care most about our country. And this is the biggest strength of us Indians. I also want to say with insistence to all political parties of UP and the country, want to say with request - avoid saying such things in this kind of crisis which are harmful for the country. Whatever is in the favor of Indians, whatever is in the interest of India, that alone is the policy and strategy of the Government of India. Those who do wrong rhetoric for politics will get some numbers in political debate, but the people of the country never forgive actions that harm the country. Even during the great crisis of Corona, some people spread rumors, told lies about the vaccine, so that the government's work becomes difficult and the country suffers loss. What was the result? The public rejected such politics during elections, turned it down. I am fully confident that all political parties of the country will also learn a lesson from this and they will give strength and power to the united efforts of the country. With this request, once again many many best wishes to Uttar Pradesh for this wonderful airport.

Speak with me:

Victory to Mother India!

Vande Mataram !

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Hail Motherland!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Many many thanks.