Science & Technology

Coal India Ties Up With ISRO's NRSC for AI-Based Satellite Monitoring of Mines

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Friday, 10 July 2026 2 min readSource: Elets eGovArticle 8 of 13

Coal India Limited (CIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a centre under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to develop an AI-powered satellite-based geospatial monitoring platform for its mining operations. The platform will use high-resolution mine-boundary data from the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) to create a digital dashboard offering real-time insights — tracking mine-closure activities, land reclamation, afforestation, and whether mining stays within approved lease boundaries, while flagging unauthorised mining. It integrates AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, predictive analytics and automated change detection with ISRO's satellite data. A key focus is using satellite imagery and AI to monitor underground coal fires in the Jharia Coalfield, detecting active fire zones and predicting their spread. The MoU was signed in a virtual ceremony by CIL Director (Technical) Achyut Ghatak and NRSC Director Dr Prakash Chauhan.

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
Coal India Limited (CIL) signed an MoU with ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) for an AI-based satellite monitoring platform for mines.
2
The platform uses mine-boundary data from the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) to build a real-time digital dashboard.
3
It will track mine closure, land reclamation, afforestation and mining within approved lease boundaries, and flag unauthorised mining.
4
The system integrates AI, ML, Deep Learning, predictive analytics and automated change detection with ISRO satellite data.
5
A key focus is monitoring underground coal fires in the Jharia Coalfield, detecting active fire zones and predicting their spread.
6
The MoU was signed virtually by CIL Director (Technical) Achyut Ghatak and NRSC Director Dr Prakash Chauhan.

Deep Dive

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The initiative supports Coal India's digital transformation and environmental governance goals.
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Continuous satellite-based surveillance is expected to improve transparency and regulatory compliance in mining.
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The partnership reflects a growing trend of integrating space technology and AI into India's mining sector.

Exam Focus

Which ISRO centre has Coal India partnered with for AI-based satellite monitoring of mines, and which coalfield's underground fires are a key focus?

Exam Relevance & Angle

PSU-ISRO technology tie-ups are testable science & technology GA. The link between Coal India, ISRO's NRSC, the AI-satellite monitoring platform and the Jharia Coalfield underground-fire focus provides a compact, examinable fact cluster spanning space tech and the mining sector.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POSSC CGLRRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

Coal India Limited (CIL) is a Maharatna public-sector undertaking and the world's largest coal producer, supplying the bulk of India's coal. The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), based in Hyderabad, is the ISRO centre responsible for satellite data acquisition, processing and remote-sensing applications. Remote sensing uses satellite imagery to observe and analyse features on the Earth's surface, and combining it with artificial intelligence enables automated detection of changes such as land-use shifts or fires. The Jharia Coalfield in Jharkhand is notorious for long-burning underground coal fires that pose safety and environmental hazards. Such collaborations exemplify the use of geospatial technology for governance, environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance.