Coal India Limited (CIL) is a state–owned coal–mining company which came into being in November 1975. It is the single largest coal producer in the world. It is a Maharatna company – a privileged status conferred by the Government of India to select state–owned enterprises in order to empower them to expand their operations and emerge as global giants. It works under the Ministry of Coal. It is headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal.