UPDATE 1-India looking at 60 state firms for stake sale-official

* FinMin considering stake sales in SAIL, NMDC, Coal India

* Asks regulators to speed up stake sale clearance

* Differential pricing, auction to QIBs may be considered

(Updates with quotes, details)

By Rajkumar Ray and Manoj Kumar

NEW DELHI, Nov 13 (Reuters) - India aims to sell shares of about 60 state-run firms in the coming years, with offers for NTPC (NTPC.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) and Rural Electrification Corp (RURL.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) expected by end-March 2010, a senior official said on Friday.

Disinvestment Secretary Sunil Mitra also said the finance ministry was in talks with other ministries to launch public offers for Steel Authority of India (SAIL.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), miner NMDC (NMDC.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), Coal India Ltd and telcoms firm BSNL.

Analysts said it may not boost sentiments as appetite may be lacking for follow-on offers of listed firms unless shares are offered at a discount, but would help cut fiscal deficit.

Investors were expecting faster progress in stake sales along with reforms in insurance and banking sectors after the Congress Party-led coalition was re-elected with a stronger majority at the April/May general elections.