Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Minerals Mission and a Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS) at Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad on December 23, 2025. The inaugurations, held during the Minister’s two-day visit to Jharkhand, mark a significant step in strengthening India’s mining research, safety, and innovation ecosystem.
Centre of Excellence to Anchor Critical Minerals Research
The newly inaugurated CoE will serve as a national anchor for research and industry-scale solutions in critical minerals, focusing on the entire value chain—exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, reuse, and waste-to-wealth.
The CoE will collaborate with leading industry partners and international universities, including the University of Cambridge and Saint Petersburg State University, and will receive infrastructure support from Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, and Camborne School of Mines (CPI, UK). The initiative aims to translate cutting-edge research into deployable, industry-ready solutions that bolster India’s strategic autonomy in critical minerals.
India’s First VR-Based Mine Simulator for Coal Mining
Developed by IIT (ISM) Dhanbad in collaboration with Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries Northern Coalfields Limited and Eastern Coalfields Limited, the Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS) is India’s first VR-based simulator for coal mining safety and productivity.
Equipped with a 360-degree immersive virtual reality theatre, VRMS leverages real mine data and offers over 20 training modules covering heavy equipment operations and critical safety SOPs. The platform enables scenario-based assessment and certification for personnel ranging from operators to senior managers. It is expected to halve training time while significantly improving safety preparedness and operational efficiency.
Candid Engagement with Students and Young Researchers
In a warm and informal interaction at RD Chowk, a historic student hub on campus, the Minister engaged with students and young researchers in an open dialogue over tea. Conversations spanned innovation in mining, opportunities in critical minerals, sustainability and clean energy, and the need for research-driven, indigenous solutions.
Encouraging students to think beyond conventional roles, Shri Reddy urged them to see themselves as problem-solvers and contributors to national development. He emphasized that India’s future in strategic sectors will be shaped by curious, confident, and innovation-driven youth, highlighting a leadership approach rooted in accessibility, dialogue, and trust.
Technology, Sustainability and Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Earlier, Shri Reddy underscored IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s pivotal role in shaping India’s mining future through knowledge creation, research, and innovation, describing the institution as both a premier training ground and a cradle of new technological vision.
He noted that the mining sector is at a historic inflection point, where technology, critical minerals, sustainability, and national security converge to advance Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the government has intensified focus on IT-enabled governance and R&D, with India emerging as the world’s sixth-highest country in patent filings and witnessing rapid growth in deep-tech innovation.
The Minister highlighted digital initiatives such as Coal SETU, the Koyla Shakti Dashboard, and Integrated Command & Control Systems, which enable real-time monitoring, improve efficiency, and enhance transparency and safety in the mining sector.
Conclusion
The inauguration of the Centre of Excellence and the Virtual Reality Mine Simulator at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad marks a decisive leap toward technology-led, safe, and sustainable mining in India. By integrating advanced research, immersive training, and close industry-academia collaboration, the initiatives reinforce India’s preparedness in critical minerals and mining innovation—placing young talent at the heart of the nation’s strategic and sustainable growth agenda. The inaugurations, held during the Minister’s two-day visit to Jharkhand, mark a significant step in strengthening India’s mining research, safety, and innovation ecosystem.
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Source: PIB
