Bilaspur, India: The third edition of Coal India Limited’s HR/IR Conclave, “Utkarsh 2026,” concluded successfully on April 11, 2026, at South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Bilaspur. The two-day national-level conclave brought together over 100 HR professionals from Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries, along with leading industry experts, academicians, and thought leaders from across the country.
Held under the theme “Shaping Minds, Strengthening Mines – Innovate, Excel, Rise,” the conclave focused on building a future-ready HR roadmap for the mining sector, addressing the evolving dynamics of Human Resources (HR) and Industrial Relations (IR).
The closing day featured a highly engaging fireside chat with renowned Indian badminton coach Pullela Gopichand. Drawing parallels between sports and organizational excellence, Gopichand emphasized the importance of discipline, resilience, and sustained effort in achieving success. “Success doesn’t come when you want it—it comes when you become worthy of it,” he remarked, underscoring the value of perseverance in challenging circumstances. The session was moderated by SECL Director (Personnel), Biranchi Das.
Day two of the conclave included in-depth discussions on key topics such as Change Adoption, “Mine to Mind” transformation, the future HR landscape, and strategic workforce planning. Speakers highlighted the critical role of HR as a strategic partner in driving organizational transformation.
The conclave was inaugurated on April 10 by Coal India Chairman B. Sairam via virtual address. He stressed the central role of human resources in advancing the company’s vision of “Reform, Perform, Transform.”
In his welcome address, SECL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Harish Duhan emphasized the importance of fostering a people-centric organizational culture, with a strong focus on employee development and well-being. Coal India’s Chief Vigilance Officer, Brajesh Kumar Tripathi, spoke about the significance of integrity and collective identity within organizations.
Delivering the keynote address, Coal India Director (Personnel), Dr. Vinay Ranjan, presented his vision in a talk titled “From Mind to Mine – The HR Shift Driving Mining Excellence.” He highlighted the evolving role of HR as a key driver of productivity, innovation, and organizational change.
Across both days, sessions featured distinguished CHROs, HR leaders, and academicians who shared insights on building trust in leadership, creating value through HR, the responsible use of artificial intelligence in HR practices, and strengthening social dialogue in future workplaces.
A special exhibition was also inaugurated during the conclave, showcasing innovative HR initiatives and achievements by Coal India and Eastern Coalfields Limited. The exhibition highlighted employee-centric programs and best practices across subsidiaries.
One of the key highlights of Utkarsh 2026 was the presentation of concept papers and innovative HR initiatives by various subsidiaries, promoting knowledge sharing and cross-learning among participants.
The conclave concluded with a collective commitment from participants to strengthen HR systems, foster a culture of trust and performance, and align human resource strategies with Coal India’s broader goal of sustainable and efficient mining operations.