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Coal India names B. Sairam as its new chief executive officer
DELHI: Coal India Limited has appointed B. Sairam as its new chief executive officer, placing a proven industry hand at the helm of the world’s largest coal producer. With decades of experience across operations, strategy and leadership, Sairam steps into the role at a time when the sector is balancing scale, efficiency and transition.
A career coal man in the truest sense, Sairam’s professional journey has taken him from the pithead to the boardroom. Most recently, he served as chairman and managing director of Northern Coalfields Limited, where he led one of Coal India’s most critical subsidiaries from Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh. Known for his hands-on leadership style, he has built a reputation for combining operational rigour with people-first management.
Before that, Sairam was director technical at Central Coalfields Limited in Ranchi, overseeing mine planning, production optimisation and safety systems across a complex portfolio of assets. His earlier stint as executive director at Coal India Limited’s headquarters in the Greater Kolkata area further sharpened his perspective on enterprise-wide strategy and governance.
Sairam’s grounding in the sector runs deep. He spent over seven years at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, rising through the ranks from chief manager to general manager, with postings in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur. Those years in Odisha shaped his understanding of ground realities, from logistics and land challenges to workforce engagement.
As CEO, Sairam is expected to focus on operational excellence, technology adoption and sustainable growth, while ensuring Coal India continues to meet the country’s energy needs reliably. His appointment signals continuity with competence, and a steady hand on the controls.
For an industry often seen as heavy and unyielding, Coal India’s choice reflects a simple belief: experience still counts, and leadership forged on the ground travels well to the corner office.
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UP govt, HGS unit to skill one lakh youth in digital push
MoU targets jobs, training and future ready talent across state
MUMBAI: Government of Uttar Pradesh has joined hands with OneOTT Intertainment Limited, the broadband arm of Hinduja Global Solutions, to train one lakh youth, signalling a fresh push towards jobs in the digital economy.
The memorandum of understanding, signed with the Employment Department Uttar Pradesh, aims to bridge the gap between skills and industry needs while opening up employment pathways for young people across the state.
The agreement was formalised by principal secretary, labour and employment, M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram and whole-time director, Hinduja Global Solutions and MD and CEO, OneOTT Intertainment Limited, Vynsley Fernandes, in the presence of labour minister Anil Rajbhar.
Under the partnership, OneOTT Intertainment Limited will roll out training programmes, workshops and knowledge-sharing platforms designed to equip youth with skills aligned to a rapidly digitising economy. The initiative will also include research inputs, technical guidance and policy-level support to ensure effective execution.
Principal secretary, labour and employment, M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram, said, “This collaboration will help align skill development programmes with actual industry needs and prepare the youth of Uttar Pradesh for emerging opportunities in the digital services sector.”
Hinduja Global Solutions whole-time director, and OneOTT Intertainment Limited MD and CEO Vynsley Fernandes said, “India’s progress is closely linked to strengthening the capabilities of its young workforce. At HGS, we see skills evolving alongside technology, and partnerships like this help build a stronger digital ecosystem.”
The state government will facilitate coordination across departments and institutions, ensuring the programmes reach the right audiences and deliver measurable outcomes.
As digital infrastructure expands and technology reshapes job markets, initiatives like this are positioning skill development not just as training, but as a gateway to opportunity for the next generation.
