Coalgate Scam 2012

coalgate scam 2012

The **Coalgate scam** (officially the **Indian coal allocation scam**) is a major political corruption scandal that erupted in **2012** under the UPA government, involving the irregular and non-transparent allocation of coal blocks to private companies.

### Key facts about the scam:

| Aspect | Details |
|--------|---------|
| **Time period** | Coal blocks allocated between **2004–2009** (UPA I tenure) [2][8] |
| **Estimated loss** | **₹1.86 lakh crore** (~$1 trillion) to the government exchequer, according to CAG [1][5] |
| **CAG report** | Report No. 7 of 2012-13, tabled in Parliament on **August 17, 2012** [3] |
| **Core issue** | Coal blocks allocated via **screen-rating process** without competitive bidding, lacking transparency [2] |
| **Supreme Court action** | On **August 25, 2014**, cancelled allocations of **214 coal blocks** [1] |
| **CBI case registered** | **September 20, 2012** [1] |
| **Companies affected** | Private firms in power, steel, and cement industries received undue benefits [2] |

### What happened:
- Historically, coal mining was nationalized, but exemptions allowed private companies to obtain coal blocks for captive use [2]
- The allocation process lacked clear criteria and transparency, enabling political figures and associates to influence allocations [2]
- Companies falsified credentials (e.g., Grace Industries claimed ₹120 crore net worth when it was only ₹3.3 crore) [1]
- The scandal led to coal shortages and forced India to import coal from Indonesia, Australia, etc. [1]

### Convictions:
In 2022, the CBI sought maximum punishment for convicts including former Coal Secretary **