Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy addressed the Chintan Shivir 2026 on Digitalisation in the Steel Sector at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, declaring that digitalization is no longer optional but the "foundational cornerstone of long-term survival" for India's steel industry. He emphasized that the sector must move beyond capacity expansion to embrace intelligent, connected, and data-driven manufacturing ecosystems to remain globally competitive, positioning steel as a strategic pillar of India's economic transformation that powers infrastructure creation, manufacturing, renewable energy, urbanisation, transportation, and defence production.
Minister Kumaraswamy noted that India has consistently retained its position as the world's second-largest steel producer since 2018, with crude steel production expanding at an average annual rate of nearly 8% since FY 2021-22 and finished steel consumption growing by approximately 13% annually, reflecting strong domestic demand and rapid industrialisation. The government's long-term vision aims to increase India's steelmaking capacity to 300 million tonnes by 2030 and 400 million tonnes by 2035, though achieving these targets requires addressing challenges related to raw material security, operational efficiency, decarbonisation, modernisation, and export competitiveness.
The Minister highlighted specific technologies that must be adopted, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Industrial Internet of Things, Digital Twins, Robotics, and Advanced Data Analytics, which can significantly improve productivity, optimise energy consumption, reduce operational costs, and enable predictive maintenance systems to minimize unplanned downtime and enhance workplace safety. The Chintan Shivir featured thematic sessions on AI-led mining solutions, digital transformation of steel plants, PM Gati Shakti, Industry 4.0 applications, and case studies showcasing measurable business impacts, with participation from leading startups, industry stakeholders, senior Ministry officials, and Chairmen and Managing Directors of major steel public sector undertakings including SAIL, NMDC, and MOIL.