Consider the following statements regarding reforms in the coal sector in India: 1. The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 introduced a transparent auction process, allowing private sector participation and enhancing government revenue. 2. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021 introduced the Prospecting Licence-cum-Mining Lease (PL-cum-ML) for streamlining the process. 3. The SHAKTI Policy aims to address coal demand in the power sector by allocating coal to private players without end-use restrictions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? |ForumIAS

[A] 1 and 2 only

[B] 1 and 3 only

[C] 2 and 3 only

[D] All of the above

Answer: A

Notes:

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct. The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 allowed private sector participation through a transparent auction process, which enhanced government revenue and streamlined coal allocation.
Statement 2 is correct. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021 introduced the PL-cum-ML, which combines the prospecting and mining lease into a single process, simplifying the regulatory framework.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The SHAKTI Policy does not allocate coal to private players without end-use restrictions. Instead, it introduces two windows for coal allocation, with Window-II catering to thermal power plants, both public and private, but still subject to certain guidelines like auctioning coal at a premium.

Source- PIB

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