- Why in news
- On 3 November 2026 the Ministry of Coal described SUVIKALP, a digital tool built by the Coal Controller Organisation to help decide new uses for closed and abandoned coal and lignite mines.
- What it is
- SUVIKALP is a digital decision-support platform developed by the Coal Controller Organisation under the Ministry of Coal. It helps mine owners and agencies pick suitable post-closure uses for mine land using site data, a ranking method and community priorities. It is aligned with the Mining Plan Guidelines for Coal and Lignite Mine, 2025.
- Developer
- The Coal Controller Organisation, under the Ministry of Coal, developed the tool.
- Ranking method
- It uses a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making method based on TOPSIS to evaluate and rank repurposing options.
- RECLAIM
- RECLAIM is the community engagement and development framework built into SUVIKALP to bring local priorities into project evaluation.
- PRISM
- PRISM, the Post-Mining Repurposing Implementation Strategic Model, covers implementation pathways beyond identifying and ranking projects.
- Next phase
- The next phase aims to expand use across closed and abandoned coal and lignite mines and turn recommendations into feasibility studies, concept notes and DPRs.
Don’t confuse with RECLAIM vs PRISM: RECLAIM is the community engagement framework; PRISM is the implementation model with a knowledge repository.
Don’t confuse with SUVIKALP vs Mining Plan Guidelines: SUVIKALP is the digital tool; the Mining Plan Guidelines for Coal and Lignite Mine, 2025 are the guidelines it is aligned with.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Gives a standard, transparent way to decide post-mining land use instead of subjective assessments.
- Links mine closure to livelihoods, environmental restoration and regional diversification, supporting a just transition for coal regions.
Problems
- Recommendations may not become projects without funding, investors and clear land and liability arrangements.
- Quality of results depends on accurate site data and real community participation.
Way forward
- Convert rankings into feasibility studies and DPRs, and mobilise investment and partnerships.
- Strengthen coordination among government, industry and agencies, and monitor environmental, economic and community outcomes.
Put in your answer
SUVIKALP as a mine-closure example: Cite it as a decision-support tool combining site data, community priorities and ranking for post-mining land use.
- 2017Mains GS1 · Q6Discuss coal mining's inevitability despite its adverse environmental impact
- 2025Mains GS3 · Q17Why mining is an environmental hazard and remedial measures to reduce it
- 2022Prelims Q72Role of the Coal Controller's Organisation in India, which statements are correct
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A new digital tool for post-mining land use. Relevant to mining and environment, but a narrow tool, so Prelims is unlikely.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.