Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, addressed the inaugural session of FICCI's 3rd Conference on 'Digitalization, AI, Automation & Technology Integration in Mining & Metals' in New Delhi. The conference, with KPMG in India as knowledge partner, brings together policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers, startups, and researchers to discuss technology adoption across India's mineral-based industries.
Dr. Singh stated that India's mining and metals sector must transition from a resource advantage to a technology-driven competitive advantage. This transformation requires technology integration across the entire value chain, from geological exploration and mining to processing, logistics, recycling, and downstream manufacturing. The sector's competitiveness will increasingly depend on how efficiently, safely, sustainably, and intelligently India converts its geological resources into high-value, resilient, and circular material supply chains.
The Minister highlighted several challenges driving this technological transformation, including declining ore grades, deeper and more complex deposits, energy and logistics costs, geopolitical concentration of critical-mineral supply chains, decarbonisation requirements, and changing customer expectations. He emphasized that digital technologies can enable faster and more precise decision-making through greater visibility, prediction, coordination, and automation by integrating geological, operational, equipment, process, energy, logistics, and market data.
Process technologies can improve extraction and recovery, unlock low-grade ores and residues, reduce energy and water intensity, support lower-carbon metal-making, and strengthen capabilities in separation, refining, advanced materials, and recycling. Dr. Singh called for building domestic capabilities in separation, purification, refining, advanced materials, magnet manufacturing, recycling, and associated equipment, skills, and intellectual property.
A key announcement was the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme designed to catalyze private-sector participation in high-impact R&D and strategic technologies. The scheme will support transformative projects at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above through long-term financing, equity support for start-ups, and deep-tech funding mechanisms.
The Minister also highlighted the role of 25 Technology Innovation Hubs established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, which provide a platform for technology translation, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration in areas relevant to smart mines, plants, and supply chains. He urged the industry to identify high-value operational challenges and establish facilities for collaborative development and validation, while encouraging laboratories and universities to work closely with industry requirements.
Dr. Singh emphasized that technology solutions must be designed around Indian operating realities, considering varied geology, brownfield plants, tough environmental conditions, affordability, interoperability, and scale. Success should be measured through technologies that are qualified, adopted, replicated, and commercialized, creating value for the economy, industries, environment, workforce, and communities. The vision aligns with Atamnirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @ 2047, aiming to build a mining and metals ecosystem that is technologically advanced, globally competitive, and environmentally responsible.