New Delhi: Coal India Limited (CIL) officers have received a major boost as the Ministry of Coal has approved the long-pending demand for revision of their pay scales in line with Maharatna public sector companies. With this approval, Coal India officers will now be entitled to revised salaries and allowances as per Maharatna norms.
Following the ministry’s green signal, formal documentation and procedural work are currently underway. A senior official of the Coal Mines Officers’ Association confirmed that almost all processes have been completed and only the official notification remains to be issued.
Meanwhile, during the hearing of a petition filed by junior officers in the Jabalpur High Court on January 7, it is expected that Coal India will formally mention the development before the court. After this, the company is likely to make a public announcement regarding the revised pay structure.
The High Court has taken a strict stance on the issue and directed the Union Coal Secretary to take a final decision by January 7, 2026. Failing this, the Coal Secretary has been instructed to appear personally before the court. The petition filed by junior officers highlights pay anomalies that emerged after wage revisions under the coal employees’ wage agreement.
With the pay-scale upgrade, officers are expected to receive a substantial salary hike, along with the possibility of arrears. According to estimates, the revised pay structure will impose an additional annual financial burden of approximately ₹515 crore on Coal India Limited.
Under the new structure, the minimum basic pay of E-1 grade officers, currently ₹40,000, will be revised upward in accordance with Maharatna standards.
It is noteworthy that in April 2025, the Jabalpur High Court had granted eight weeks to a committee constituted by the Ministry of Coal to prepare a detailed report on officers’ pay upgradation. This process was initiated following Supreme Court directions to review and address wage anomalies in Coal India.
The decision is being seen as a significant morale booster for Coal India officers and a step toward aligning the company’s compensation framework with its Maharatna status.