Admin Team
10 Feb

CPSE STATUS UPGRADES – IN NEWS (Reverse Chronology)

Date (Latest → Oldest)CPSENew StatusCategoryMinistry / SectorKey Significance
03 Feb 2026Yantra India Limited (YIL)MiniratnaCategory-IDefence (MoD)Ammunition manufacturer; part of Ordnance Factory reforms; boosts indigenisation
02 Dec 2025Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL)NavratnaPetroleum & Natural GasBecame 27th Navratna CPSE; higher autonomy for refinery expansion
14 Oct 2025Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL)MiniratnaShipping / DefenceStrengthens maritime, green shipbuilding & defence capability
30 May 2025Munitions India Ltd (MIL)MiniratnaCategory-IDefence (MoD)Ammunition & explosives; post-Ordnance Factory restructuring
30 May 2025Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd (AVNL)MiniratnaCategory-IDefence (MoD)Armoured & combat vehicles; enhances self-reliance
30 May 2025India Optel Ltd (IOL)MiniratnaCategory-IDefence (MoD)Defence optics & opto-electronics
03 Mar 2025Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC)NavratnaRailways26th Navratna CPSE; strengthens railway financing
03 Mar 2025Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corp (IRCTC)NavratnaRailways25th Navratna CPSE; higher autonomy in services


Maharatna, Navratna & Miniratna PSUs – Final Notes

1. Historical Background

  • After Independence, India pursued state-led industrialisation.
  • Industrial Policy Resolution, 1956:
    • Assigned a dominant role to the public sector.
    • PSUs set up in strategic sectors: steel, power, energy, heavy engineering, chemicals, irrigation, communications.
  • By the 1990s, economic liberalisation exposed PSUs to global competition.
  • Many PSUs became financially strong but lacked decision-making freedom.

Evolution of PSU Categories

  • 1997: Navratna status introduced for top-performing PSUs.
  • Early 2000s: Miniratna Category I & II created for smaller profitable PSUs.
  • 2010: Maharatna category introduced for the largest, globally competitive PSUs.

Maharatna vs Navratna vs Miniratna (Comparison Table)

FeatureMaharatnaNavratnaMiniratna (Cat I)Miniratna (Cat II)
Introduced In2010199719971997
Prerequisite StatusMust be NavratnaMust be Miniratna Cat IRegular CPSERegular CPSE
Profit Requirement≥ ₹2,500 crore (avg of 3 yrs)Scored parameterProfit for 3 consecutive yrsProfit for 3 consecutive yrs
Net Worth Requirement≥ ₹10,000 crore (avg of 3 yrs)Scored parameterPositivePositive
Turnover Requirement≥ ₹20,000 crore (avg of 3 yrs)Scored parameterNot specifiedNot specified
Scoring SystemNot applicable≥ 60/100Not applicableNot applicable
Independent DirectorsAs per Navratna normsMinimum 4Not mandatoryNot mandatory
Global PresenceStrong international footprintSectoral importanceNot mandatoryNot mandatory
Investment Limit (Single Project)Up to ₹5,000 crore or 15% of net worthUp to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of net worthUp to ₹500 crore or net worthUp to ₹300 crore
Govt Approval NeededNot required (within limits)Not required (within limits)Not required (within limits)Not required (within limits)
Mergers & AcquisitionsFull freedomLimited freedomRestrictedRestricted
Joint VenturesFull freedom (India & abroad)PermittedLimitedLimited
Operational AutonomyVery highHighModerateLimited
Decision-Making SpeedFastestFastModerateRelatively slow
Strategic RoleGlobal expansion & mega projectsSector leadersGrowth-oriented CPSEsEntry-level autonomy

Maharatna, Navratna & Miniratna CPSEs (Status Overview – 2025)

CategoryNumber of CPSEs (2025)Broad Significance
Maharatna14India’s largest CPSEs with global scale and strategic importance
Navratna27Sector-leading CPSEs with high financial and operational autonomy
Miniratna74 (Cat I + II)Profit-making CPSEs with varying degrees of autonomy

Maharatna Companies (2025)

SectorCompany
Oil & GasONGC
PowerNTPC
Oil Refining & MarketingIndian Oil Corporation (IOCL)
CoalCoal India
Power TransmissionPower Grid Corporation of India
Heavy EngineeringBHEL
Oil & GasGAIL
PetroleumBPCL
PetroleumHPCL
Power FinancePower Finance Corporation (PFC)
Power FinanceRural Electrification Corporation (REC)
SteelSAIL
Oil & GasOil India
Defence & AerospaceHindustan Aeronautics Limited (Maharatna since Oct 2024)

Navratna Companies (2025)

AreaCPSEs
Defence & ElectronicsBharat Electronics Limited
Infrastructure & ConstructionNBCC (India), Ircon International, RITES
Metals & MineralsNALCO, NMDC, RINL
EnergyNLC India, NHPC, SJVN
RailwaysRVNL, RailTel, IRCTC, IRFC
Oil & Gas (Overseas)ONGC Videsh
FertilizersRCF, NFL
TelecomMTNL
Shipping & LogisticsSCI, CONCOR
Urban Development & HousingHUDCO
WarehousingCentral Warehousing Corporation
Renewable EnergyIREDA, SECI
Defence ShipbuildingMazagon Dock Shipbuilders

(Total: 26 Navratna CPSEs)


Miniratna Companies – Category I (Selected Examples)

SectorCompany
AviationAirports Authority of India
DefenceBharat Dynamics Limited
Earth-moving EquipmentBEML
TelecomBSNL
PetroleumChennai Petroleum Corporation
ShipbuildingCochin Shipyard
CoalBCCL, CCL
Engineering & DesignCMPDI
MetalsMIDHANI
Space & SatellitesAntrix Corporation
Manufacturing & ServicesBalmer Lawrie
Defence ShipbuildingGRSE, Goa Shipyard

Miniratna Companies – Category II (Selected Examples)

SectorCompany
Engineering ConsultancyMECON
PharmaceuticalsIndian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation
Media & FilmsNational Film Development Corporation
ElectronicsRajasthan Electronics & Instruments Ltd
Engineering ProjectsEngineering Projects (India) Ltd
Scrap & RecyclingFerro Scrap Nigam
Medical DevicesArtificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation



Maharatna CPSEs in India 

SICompanyEstablishedMaharatna Status Year
1Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)19402024
2Oil India Limited (OIL)19592023
3Rural Electrification Corporation (REC Ltd)19692022
4Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)19892021
5Power Finance Corporation (PFC)19862019
6Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)19742019
7Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)19522017
8Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)19642013
9GAIL (India) Limited19842013
10Coal India Limited (CIL)19752011
11NTPC Limited19752010
12Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)19562010
13Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)19732010
14Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)19592010

Navratna CPSEs in India 

SICompanyEstablishedNavratna Status Year
1Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)19992025
2Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC)19862025
3National Fertilisers Limited (NFL)19742024
4Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)19572024
5Housing & Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO)19702024
6Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)19872024
7Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited19342024
8RailTel Corporation of India Limited20002024
9Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)20112024
10NHPC Limited19752024
11SJVN Limited19882024
12Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)20032023
13IRCON International Limited19762023
14RITES Limited19742023
15Container Corporation of India (CONCOR)19882014
16Engineers India Limited (EIL)19652014
17NBCC (India) Limited19602014
18NLC India Limited19562011
19Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)19712010
20National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)19812008
21National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)19582008
22Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)19612008
23ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL)19652008
24Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers (RCF)19782008
25Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)19542007
26Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)19861997
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