The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has published a discussion paper on compiling monetary asset accounts of coal in India. This initiative aligns with the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) Central Framework, recognized as an international statistical standard by the United Nations Statistical Commission. Since 2018, the Ministry has been following the UN SEEA Framework to compile physical asset accounts for coal and other resources.
Building upon this foundation, the Ministry has now begun the experimental monetary valuation and compilation of asset accounts for mineral and energy resources. The discussion paper, titled “Methodological Approaches for Compilation of Monetary Asset Accounts of Coal in India,” invites comments and feedback from experts, researchers, and government agencies to finalize a standardized methodology for monetary valuation.
The aim is to establish a standard methodology for the monetary valuation of non-renewable mineral resources within India’s national accounts framework. This effort is crucial for assessing depletion costs, estimating future government revenues from resource extraction, and enabling comparisons across different environmental assets. The National Mineral Policy, 2019 emphasizes sustainable mining practices, making such valuation directly relevant to India’s policy framework.
The discussion paper outlines a conceptual framework for the monetary valuation of non-renewable mineral and energy resources as per the SEEA Central Framework. It evaluates three international methodologies, including the OECD (2025) Compilation Guide, the World Bank’s Changing Wealth of Nations (CWON, 2024), and a Philippines-based methodology (2024), to identify the most suitable approach for adoption within India’s statistical system.
