The Government of India has promulgated ordinance to amend MMDR act (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation act), 1957 and Coal Mines (Special Provisions) act [CMSP], 2015.
It will enhance ease of doing business and ease the auction of coal mines
It will promote FDI (Foreign Direct Investment).
Despite having the world’s fourth largest coal reserves, India imported 235 million tonnes (mt) of coal last year.
Thus, India is the second largest importer of coal in the world.
The Government plans to increase coal production to 1 billion tonnes by 2024.
For the financial year 2019-20, the target set is 660 million tonnes.