Mr.D.N.Prasad, a Mining Engineer by profession and obtained his Bachelor's degree in Engineering from the University College of Engineering, osmania University, Hyderabad in 1978 with University First rank and obtained two Gold Medals. He holds First Class Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency(Coal) and did his MBA from the University of Hull, UK. He has about 36 years of long experience to his credit in Coal and Energy sectors of India. His experience covers both operation and management of coal mines for eleven years in the public sector coal companies namely, Coal India Ltd., and Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd. and Development Policy Planning for coal & lignite of India for 25 years in the Planning Commission and Ministry of Coal, Government of India.

His areas of experience broadly cover development of coal projects, planning for exploration of coal & lignite, techno economic appraisals of investment projects for coal & lignite, perspective planning for coal production and demand, capital budgeting, infrastructure development for coal evacuation, project monitoring, promotion of clean coal technologies including coal washing, development of CBM/CMM projects, environmental management appraisals of coal sector projects,scrutiny of mining plans, mines safety, climate change issues, coal resource allocation, etc., He has been responsible for development of a number of coal and lignite projects in different coal and lignite PSU's.

Mr.Prasad is a member of Institution of Engineers(India) and Mines, Geological & Mettallurgical Institute of India(MGMI) and has contributed a number of papers on coal development policy etc., in national and International seminars and represented Ministry of Coal in a number of bilateral and multilateral forums.

Mr.Prasad is a recipient of Professor Iki Award from Japan Coal Energy Research Center for his contribution in development of coal sector in India and development of coal in Japan through bilateral technical cooperation.