Pension Revision under COAL Mines Pension Scheme : Loksabha Unstarred Question No.2031
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2031
ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026
PENSION REVISION UNDER COAL MINES PENSION SCHEME
2031. SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:
Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:
(a) the policy framework for employment generation and skill development funding 1n coal and power Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) along with the recruitment targets for 2024-25 in mining regions including Peddapalli in Telangana;
(b) the current status of pension revision under the Coal Mines Pension Scheme (CMPS-1998) and the timeline for the mandatory three-year pension escalation policy;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to address the All India Coal Pensioners’ Association’s demands regarding pension enhancement particularly for retired miners in Peddapalli;
(d) the employment opportunities created through PSU-funded skill development programmes during the last two years, State-wise including Telangana; and
(e) the mechanism ensuring timely three-year pension escalation for PSU employees and pensioners including budgetary provisions and grievance redressal system’?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) The public sector undertakings including those in coal and power sector are governed by the statutory framework given under Companies Act, 2013 and norms of Department of Public Sector Enterprises.
Recruitment and skill development in coal mining regions including those in Telangana are undertaken by coal sector PSUs through a combination of fresh recruitment against vacant posts, compassionate appointments, employment to Project Affected Persons (PAPs) under the Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Policy and skill development initiatives funded under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of these PSUs.
Recruitment of Executives in Group “A” posts in CIL and its subsidiaries is carried out centrally through All-India Computer Based Tests and GATE scores. During 2024-25, recruitment targets of CIL included 640 vacancies through GATE-2024 and 434 vacancies through CBT-2025. Further, during 2024-25, 2140 employees (executives and non-executives) through fresh recruitment, 2800 employees through compassionate employment and 2140 employees against land losers were recruited in CIL and its subsidiaries.
In Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), notifications were issued for 599 vacancies during 2024-25, of which 556 were filled.
NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has recruited 1032 employees during 2024 and 661 employees during 2025.
(b) As per Para 22 of Coal Mines Pension Scheme, 1998, pension revision 1s subject to actuarial valuation conducted once every three years. The latest actuarial valuation (March 2022) did not recommend enhancement due to shortfall in the Pension Fund. However, vide Gazette Notification dated 08.03.2024, an assured minimum pension of Rs. 1000 per month has been provided to employees retiring on superannuation with at least thirty years of qualifying service, employees granted disablement pension on permanent disablement after ten years of service and widow/widower pensioners.
(c) As per provisions of Coal Mines Pension Scheme, 1998, enhancement is contingent upon actuarial recommendations. The Government has taken a positive step by ensuring a minimum pension of Rs. 1000 per month with effect from 08.03.2024 benefiting eligible pensioners including retired miners from Peddapalli.
(d) CIL and its subsidiaries undertake skill development programmes in mining-affected areas through CSR funds. Details are placed at Annexure I.
In SCCL, an amount of Rs. 53.40 crore was sanctioned under CSR for skill development programmes during the last two years, benefiting about 15,000 unemployed youth. Training is also imparted through SCCL’s established skill development centres in various skills such as solar technician, drone technician, welding, and computer applications.
NLCIL undertakes various measures for creating employment opportunities through skill development as detailed below:
- NLCIL is conducting Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), an upskilling cum re-skilling programme every year covering nearly 200 employees and contract work men in Mining and power sector under non PMKVY scheme as per directions of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- A job-oriented Skill Development programme is conducted in association with National Power Training Institute (NPTI) for the wards of project affected families and unemployed youth in and around NLCIL projects, since 2022-23.
- NLCIL under CSR has established a Skill Development Centre at Annamalai University and every year around 50 students including students from project affected villages are perusing Diploma in Mining course through this skill Development Centre.
- Details of other skill development activities undertaken during 2023-24 and 2024-25 are given at Annexure II.
(e) The mechanism for pension escalation under Coal Mines Pension Scheme, 1998 is laid down in Para 22 which provides for actuarial valuation every three years. The Government of India provides budgetary support to the Pension Fund equivalent to one and two-third percent of the employee’s salary, subject to the prescribed ceiling on salary. Grievances of pensioners are addressed through an IT-based grievance redressal system under C-CARES. CIL also operates the e-Nivaran portal to ensure transparent and time-bound resolution of service related grievances.
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