Dr Jitendra Singh Calls for Technology-Driven Mining Sector
Minister says India must move from resource advantage to technology-led competitiveness across the mining and metals value chain
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th Sept: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh on Thursday called for a technology-driven transformation of India’s mining and metals sector, saying the country must move from a resource advantage to technology-led competitiveness.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 3rd FICCI Conference on Digitalization, AI, Automation & Technology Integration in Mining & Metals at FICCI Federation House in New Delhi, Singh said technology needs to be integrated across the entire value chain, from geological exploration and mining to processing, logistics, recycling and downstream manufacturing.
He said the competitiveness of the sector would increasingly depend on how efficiently, safely, sustainably and intelligently India converts its geological resources into high-value and resilient material supply chains.
The Minister said the sector faces challenges including declining ore grades, deeper and more complex mineral deposits, rising energy and logistics costs, concentration of critical-mineral supply chains and increasing decarbonisation requirements.
He called for moving beyond isolated technology pilots towards connected and scalable systems that can be deployed at industrial scale.
Singh said digital technologies can integrate geological, operational, equipment, process, energy, logistics and market data to improve decision-making through greater visibility, prediction, coordination and automation.
He also highlighted the role of process technologies in improving mineral recovery, enabling the use of low-grade ores and residues, reducing energy and water consumption and supporting lower-carbon metal production.
The Minister stressed the need to build domestic capabilities in separation, purification, refining, advanced materials, magnet manufacturing, recycling and associated equipment and intellectual property.
He said technologies that have already matured should be deployed and scaled, while underutilised resources should undergo process validation before being taken to larger commercial applications.
Singh said the Ministry of Science and Technology can help connect scientific research with industrial applications in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber-physical systems, sensing, clean energy, biotechnology, geospatial technologies and deep-tech entrepreneurship.
He referred to the 25 Technology Innovation Hubs established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, saying they provide a platform for technology translation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration relevant to smart mines, plants and supply chains.
The Minister also highlighted the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme, saying it is intended to increase private-sector participation in high-impact research and development and strategic technologies.
He said the scheme can support projects at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above through long-term financing, equity support for startups and deep-tech funding mechanisms.
Singh called for closer coordination between national missions, research institutions, industry, startups, testing facilities and investors to help promising technologies move from laboratories to pilot projects and subsequently to industrial deployment.
He urged the mining and metals industry to identify high-value operational and processing challenges and create facilities and domain expertise for collaborative technology development and validation.
The Minister also called for technology solutions suited to Indian operating conditions, including varied geology, brownfield plants, difficult environmental conditions, affordability, interoperability and the scale of Indian operations.
He said technology adoption should be assessed not only through prototypes, patents or pilot projects but also through qualification, industrial adoption, replication and commercialisation.
“We should not be content only by adopting the next generation of mining and metals technologies. Our ambition should be to develop, demonstrate and scale technologies in India, for India and for the world,” Singh said.
He called for collective efforts to build a mining and metals ecosystem that is technologically advanced, globally competitive and environmentally responsible, aligned with the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
