Which of the following is in the list of Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises?
Coal India Limited
Understanding Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are government-owned companies in India. To improve their performance and grant them greater autonomy, the government classifies them into different categories: Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna. These classifications are based on criteria like net profit, net worth, turnover, and listing on stock exchanges.
The Maharatna status is the highest classification, granted to large-sized CPSEs with significant operations and profitability. This status provides them with enhanced financial and operational autonomy, allowing them to make larger investment decisions without government approval, thereby increasing their efficiency and global competitiveness.
Analyzing the Given Options
Let's examine the status of each company listed in the options to determine which one is a Maharatna CPSE:
- Central Coalfields Limited: This is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). Central Coalfields Limited holds a Miniratna Category-I status, not Maharatna.
- Cochin Shipyard: Cochin Shipyard Limited is a prominent shipbuilding and repair yard. It holds a Miniratna Category-I status.
- India Tourism Development Corporation: This corporation is involved in the development of tourism infrastructure and services. It holds a Miniratna Category-II status.
- Coal India Limited: Coal India Limited (CIL) is a major state-owned coal mining corporate. CIL is indeed one of the Maharatna CPSEs in India.
Identifying the Correct Maharatna CPSE
Based on the analysis of the options, Coal India Limited (CIL) is the only company from the given list that holds the prestigious Maharatna status. The other companies listed fall under the Miniratna categories.
Maharatna CPSE List
For your reference, here is a list of the Maharatna CPSEs in India (Note: The list can be updated by the government):
| S.No. | Name of CPSE |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) |
| 2 | Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) |
| 3 | Coal India Limited (CIL) |
| 4 | GAIL (India) Limited |
| 5 | Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) |
| 6 | Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) |
| 7 | National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) |
| 8 | Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) |
| 9 | Power Grid Corporation of India Limited |
| 10 | Power Finance Corporation (PFC) |
| 11 | Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) |
| 12 | Oil India Limited (OIL) |
From the list above, it is clear that Coal India Limited (CIL) is included among the Maharatna CPSEs.
Revision Table: Overview of CPSE Categories
| Category | Key Features / Criteria Highlights | Autonomy & Powers (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Maharatna | Largest, most profitable CPSEs; meet stringent criteria related to net profit, net worth, turnover, and listing. | Can make equity investments to establish financial joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries and undertake mergers and acquisitions up to 15% of their net worth in one project (maximum limit > 5000 crore) without government approval. |
| Navratna | High-performing CPSEs; meet criteria related to profitability, efficiency, and global presence. | Can make capital expenditure up to 1000 crore or 15% of their net worth in one project, or 30% of their net worth in the whole year (not exceeding 1000 crore). |
| Miniratna Category-I | Profit-making for the last three years continuously and have a positive net worth. | Can incur capital expenditure up to 500 crore or 30% of their net worth, whichever is lower. |
| Miniratna Category-II | Profit-making for the last three years continuously and have a positive net worth, but do not meet the criteria for Miniratna Category-I (e.g., not listed). | Can incur capital expenditure up to 300 crore or 50% of their net worth, whichever is lower. |
Additional Information: Criteria for Maharatna Status
To be considered for Maharatna status, a CPSE must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a Navratna CPSE.
- Must be listed on the Indian stock exchange with minimum prescribed public shareholding under SEBI regulations.
- Should have an average annual turnover of more than ₹ 25,000 crore during the last three financial years.
- Should have an average annual net worth of more than ₹ 15,000 crore during the last three financial years.
- Should have an average annual net profit after tax of more than ₹ 5,000 crore during the last three financial years.
- Should have a significant global presence/international operations.
Meeting these stringent criteria allows certain large and profitable CPSEs to be classified as Maharatnas, giving them greater financial and operational freedom.
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