Himachal’s Pride Rises, Anurag Singh Thakur Honored with Sansad Ratna Award Once Again
Coal, Steel, and Mines Committee chaired by Anurag Singh Thakur selected for the award due to outstanding performance
Anurag Singh Thakur expresses gratitude to the selection committee and members of the Coal, Steel, and Mines Committee
May 24, 2026, Himachal Pradesh: Former Union Minister and MP from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, has once again been honored with the Sansad Ratna Award. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Steel, and Mines, chaired by MP Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, has been selected for the prestigious Sansad Ratna Award due to its outstanding performance. The selection of Shri Anurag Singh Thakur for the Sansad Ratna Award once again is a matter of pride for the entire state of Himachal Pradesh. Previously, in 2019, as the party’s Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha and MP from Hamirpur, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur was honored with the Sansad Ratna Award in Chennai for his excellent performance in Parliament. The then Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Banwarilal Purohit, had presented this award to Shri Anurag Singh Thakur.
The Sansad Ratna Awards were established in 2010 upon the suggestion of the then President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to honor the best-performing parliamentarians. The selection for this award is determined based on the MPs’ participation in debates, the number of questions asked by them, the number of bills introduced, their attendance in Parliament, and the utilization of funds under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme. Since their inception, the Sansad Ratna Awards have evolved into a prestigious institution of transparency and parliamentary excellence. These awards are recognized by the India Book of Records.
Under the chairmanship of Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Steel, and Mines (18th Lok Sabha) has worked with utmost proactiveness and dedication. The committee has so far presented 23 important reports to both houses of Parliament, which include in-depth reviews, demands for grants, and implementation reports related to the Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Mines, and Ministry of Steel. These reports cover crucial subjects such as simplifying and expediting the environmental and forest clearance processes for coal mining projects, the implementation of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund and Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), self-reliance in minerals and metals, review of the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT), Steel Scrap Recycling Policy, and a comprehensive review of the organizational structure and performance of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The committee held more than 50 meetings in a single year to engage in deep deliberations on policies and schemes for the country’s energy, mining, and steel sectors, presenting solid recommendations to strengthen the role of these sectors in national development.
Expressing joy over being selected for this year’s Sansad Ratna Award, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur said, “It is a matter of great joy for me that once again, I am being conferred with the prestigious Sansad Ratna Award for properly discharging my duties as a parliamentarian. I view this as an honor for my constituency and the entire state of Himachal Pradesh. I express my gratitude to all my fellow MP colleagues on the Committee on Coal, Steel, and Mines, as well as the selection committee of the Sansad Ratna Awards.”
Shri Thakur further added, “It is a matter of extreme pride that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines, and Steel has been honored with the Sansad Ratna Award 2026. This honor belongs to all the members of the committee and is a reflection of the collective commitment we have demonstrated in effective parliamentary oversight, crucial legislative scrutiny, and addressing key issues of the coal and mining sectors for national development. This recognition will inspire me to raise more people-centric issues and propel me forward in realizing the goal of a developed and self-reliant India.”
