THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

India must move beyond its natural resource advantage and build technology-driven competitiveness across the mining and metals value chain, with digital and advanced technologies integrated from geological exploration and mining to processing, logistics, recycling and downstream manufacturing, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.

Addressing the inaugural session of the third edition of the FICCI conference on “Digitalization, AI, Automation & Technology Integration in Mining & Metals: Enhancing Competitiveness of the Sector” at FICCI Federation House here, Singh said the future competitiveness of the sector would depend not merely on the volume of minerals extracted or metals produced, but on how efficiently, safely, sustainably and intelligently India converts its geological resources into high-value, resilient and circular material supply chains.

He called for a shift from isolated technology pilots to connected, scalable and trusted technology systems capable of transforming the mining and metals sector at industrial scale.

The two-day conference brings together policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers, startups, researchers and international partners to deliberate on technology adoption across India's mineral-based industries. KPMG in India is the knowledge partner for the conference.

Singh said India's mining and metals sector is entering a defining phase as the country progresses towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047, with the sector playing a critical role in infrastructure development, the energy transition, manufacturing growth, self-reliance and economic competitiveness.

The country's growth over the past decade, supported by infrastructure expansion, domestic manufacturing, digital infrastructure, innovation and investment, has created the scale and capabilities needed for technology-led expansion across major sectors, he said.

The minister said the competitiveness challenge facing mining and metals is changing rapidly, with declining ore grades, deeper and more complex deposits, rising energy and logistics costs, geopolitical concentration of critical-mineral supply chains, decarbonisation requirements and changing customer expectations creating the need for a new technology-led approach.

Technology, he said, should no longer be viewed merely as an isolated capital investment or a collection of pilots, but as a strategic enabler spanning the entire mineral resource-to-metals-to-downstream value chain.

Digital technologies can integrate geological, operational, equipment, process, energy, logistics and market data, enabling faster and more precise decisions through improved visibility, prediction, coordination and automation, Singh said.

Process technologies can enhance extraction and recovery, unlock low-grade ores and residues, reduce energy and water intensity, facilitate lower-carbon metal production and strengthen capabilities in separation, refining, advanced materials and recycling, thereby reducing costs and improving the competitiveness of Indian minerals and metals in domestic and global markets, he said.

Singh called for building domestic capabilities in separation, purification, refining, advanced materials, magnet manufacturing, recycling and associated equipment, skills and intellectual property.

Technologies that have already matured should be deployed and scaled, while underutilised resources should first undergo process validation before being scaled up, he said, adding that where strategic capabilities are not yet available at commercial scale, India should develop them domestically or partner selectively while building indigenous know-how.

The minister said the Ministry of Science and Technology can play a key role in connecting scientific excellence with industrial outcomes in areas such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber-physical systems, sensing, clean energy, biotechnology, geospatial technologies and deep-tech entrepreneurship.

The 25 Technology Innovation Hubs established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems provide a platform for technology translation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration in areas directly relevant to smart mines, plants and supply chains, he said.

Referring to the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme, Singh said it has been designed to catalyse private-sector participation in high-impact research and development and strategic technologies.

The scheme can support transformative projects at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above through long-term financing, equity support for startups and deep-tech funding mechanisms, he said.

Singh said the next phase of technology-led transformation would require national missions, research institutions, industry problem statements, startups, test facilities and risk capital to work together so that promising technologies can progress from laboratories to pilots and from pilots to industrial-scale deployment.

Sector-wide transformation would require value-focused technology adoption, robust digital infrastructure, industrial-scale testing and demonstration, skilled human capital and deeper collaboration among government, industry, academia and innovators, he said.

Urging the mining and metals industry to identify a focused set of high-value operational and process challenges, Singh called for facilities, data and domain expertise to be developed for collaborative technology development and validation.

He also encouraged laboratories, universities and Technology Innovation Hubs to work closely with industry requirements, including performance specifications, cost targets, qualification standards and clear pathways to commercial deployment.

Technology solutions must be designed around Indian operating realities, he said, pointing to the country's varied geology, brownfield plants, challenging environmental conditions, affordability requirements, interoperability needs and the scale of operations.

The success of technology adoption should be measured not merely through prototypes, patents or pilots, but through technologies that are qualified, adopted, replicated and commercialised, along with the value they create for the economy, industries, environment, workforce and communities, Singh said.

 “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,” he said.

Singh also congratulated FICCI and KPMG in India on the release of the thought leadership report accompanying the conference.

He called for collective efforts to build a mining and metals ecosystem that is technologically advanced, globally competitive and environmentally responsible, aligned with the vision of Atamnirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @ 2047.