📘 Q.10 IAS Prelims 2022 — Polity & Governance: Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO)
🧷 Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
📍 The Question:
In India, what is the role of the Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO)?
- CCO is the major source of Coal Statistics in Government of India.
- It monitors progress of development of Captive Coal/Lignite blocks.
- It hears any objection to the Government’s notification relating to acquisition of coal-bearing areas.
- It ensures that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4
✅ Correct Answer: (a)
🔎 Curiosity Raiser (UPSC lens)
UPSC is testing institutional functions mapped to statutes, not general perceptions of regulation.
The trap lies in assuming delivery enforcement where only monitoring/statistical roles exist.
🧠 Core Concept Tested
Statutory and functional role of the Coal Controller’s Organisation
🔍 Classroom Explanation (UPSC Prelims Focused)
Statement 1 ✅
- Under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, the Coal Controller is the statistical authority for coal and lignite.
- CCO publishes:
- Provisional Coal Statistics
- Coal Directory of India
- Monthly coal data for ministries and agencies.
👉 Statement 1 is correct.
Statement 2 ✅
- CCO monitors the development and progress of Captive Coal and Lignite blocks.
- This includes oversight of milestones and escrow-related compliance.
👉 Statement 2 is correct.
Statement 3 ✅
- Under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957,
the Coal Controller is the competent authority to:- hear objections to Central Government notifications, and
- submit reports to the Government.
👉 Statement 3 is correct.
Statement 4 ❌
- There is no explicit mandate for CCO to ensure time-bound delivery of coal to end users.
- Distribution and delivery are commercial/operational matters, not a statutory function of CCO.
👉 Statement 4 is incorrect.
❌ Why the final answer is (a)
- Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
- Statement 4 is incorrect.
- Hence, option (a).
📘 Enrich Notes (Prelims Value Add)
- CCO → Established in 1916; oldest coal-sector office
- Key statutes:
- Collection of Statistics Act, 2008
- Coal Bearing Areas Act, 1957
- Colliery Control Rules, 2004
- Core roles → Statistics, monitoring, adjudication, quality surveillance
- Not a role → Enforcing coal delivery timelines
📌 Prelims Recall Line
CCO counts coal, monitors blocks, hears objections — it does not deliver coal.
🧘♂️ IAS Monk Whisper
In governance, regulation often means oversight,
not execution.