**Executive Summary**
On May 18, 2026, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, visited Hindustan Zinc’s Rajpura Dariba Complex to review its technology-led mining and smelting operations. The visit highlighted the company’s role in India’s "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision, emphasizing mineral security and domestic self-reliance. Key areas of focus included advanced underground mining, workforce diversity, and the strategic importance of zinc, lead, and silver in national infrastructure.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Operational Excellence and Capacity**
* Hindustan Zinc maintains an annual refined metal production capacity exceeding 1.1 million tonnes.
* The Sindesar Khurd Mine is recognized as one of the world's largest silver-producing and technologically advanced underground mines.
* The Dariba Smelting Complex operates as a state-of-the-art facility featuring integrated mining-to-metal capabilities.
**Technological Innovation and Safety**
* Operations utilize tele-remote mining, remote-operated equipment, and advanced paste-filling systems to enhance safety and productivity.
* Centralized control rooms and digital product galleries are used to monitor and manage large-scale mining activities.
* The company established India’s first women mine rescue team, demonstrating leadership in safety excellence and capability building.
**Strategic Economic Role**
* The mining sector is positioned as a primary engine for the "Viksit Bharat" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives to reduce import dependence.
* Critical minerals produced at the site support key sectors, including renewable energy, electric mobility, defense, and electronics.
* Responsible mining practices are emphasized to convert mineral potential into industrial competitiveness and inclusive growth.
**Diversity and Community Development**
* The company maintains a 26.3% women workforce in the metals and mining sector, focusing on leadership development and inclusion.
* Flagship programs like "Unchi Udaan" provide career pathways for community members, with beneficiaries securing employment in entities such as Coal India.
* Ongoing sustainability initiatives focus on water stewardship, energy transition, and low-carbon growth.
**Impact Analysis**
**Hindustan Zinc Limited**
**Impact**
Positioned as a strategic national asset and a benchmark for technology-driven, responsible mining in India.
**Action Required**
Must continue to scale technology-led transformations and maintain its focus on safety and sustainability to support national mineral security.
**Government of India (Ministry of Mines)**
**Impact**
Identifies the company’s operations as a model for achieving the 2047 vision of a self-reliant, industrial economy.
**Action Required**
Focus on strengthening domestic value chains and supporting the expansion of large-scale, globally competitive mining operations.
**Workforce and Community**
**Impact**
Beneficiaries of inclusion and development programs experience increased career opportunities and enhanced workplace safety.
**Action Required**
Employees and contract workers must continue to adopt advanced safety protocols and engage with capability-building initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Viksit Bharat 2047: The national vision to transform India into a developed nation by its centenary of independence, guiding the strategic evolution of the mining and mineral sectors.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: The government's self-reliance initiative focused on reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic mineral security and value chains.
Ministry of Mines: The primary central government ministry responsible for the administration, development, and oversight of the mining sector in India.
G. Kishan Reddy: The Union Minister of Coal and Mines who reviewed the industrial operations and articulated the sector's role in national economic goals.
Unchi Udaan programme: A flagship community development initiative highlighted during the review for its role in career building and workforce inclusion.
Ministry of Mines
Hindustan Zinc’s Rajasthan Operations Reflect
India’s Vision for Viksit Bharat: G. Kishan Reddy
Hon’ble Minister reviewed technology-led underground
mining, integrated smelting operations and flagship
community development programmes in Rajasthan
Posted On: 18 MAY 2026 7:19PM by PIB Delhi
Hindustan Zinc Limited hosted Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal and Mines,
Government of India, at its Rajpura Dariba Complex in Rajasthan. The visit included a holistic tour of the
company’s Sindesar Khurd Mine, one of the world’s largest silver-producing and technologically
advanced underground mines, and Dariba Smelting Complex, a state-of-the-art smelting facility.
Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India, said,
“India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 will be built on the strength of its mineral resources, domestic
capabilities and future-ready industries. Hindustan Zinc’s operations reflect how the country’s mining
sector is evolving into a modern, responsible and technology-driven growth engine for the nation. Its
integrated tech-first mining-to-metal capabilities, focus on safety, innovation, diverse workforce and
community development demonstrate the kind of self-reliant industrial ecosystem envisioned by Hon’ble
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
As India strengthens its critical mineral value chains, Hindustan Zinc will play an important role in
reducing import dependence, unlocking greater value from domestic resources and supporting
manufacturing and long-term economic resilience. Responsible mining will be central to this
transformation, enabling India to convert its mineral potential into national strength, industrial
competitiveness and inclusive growth.”
With an annual refined metal production capacity of over 1.1 million tonnes, Hindustan Zinc plays a
strategic role in strengthening India’s mineral security and domestic metals ecosystem. The visit
highlighted the growing strategic importance of India’s mining and metals sector in securing the raw
materials required for the country’s infrastructure expansion, manufacturing growth, energy transition and
emerging technologies.
Metals such as zinc, lead and silver are critical for sectors including steel galvanization, renewable energy,
electric mobility, electronics, defence and advanced manufacturing. As India moves towards becoming a
globally competitive self-sufficient manufacturing and industrial economy under Hon’ble Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the development of large-scale, technology-driven
and globally competitive mining operations will play a vital role in reducing import dependence,
strengthening mineral security and unlocking long-term economic value for the nation.Hon’ble Minister was accompanied by Mr. Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, Mr. Vivek Bajpai, Joint
Secretary - Ministry of Mines, along with the company’s senior leadership team during the visit. During
the visit, the Hon’ble Minister undertook an underground visit to Sindesar Khurd Mine, which stands as a
benchmark in underground mining through its scale, silver-rich ore body and technology-led practices
focused on safety, productivity and operational excellence. He visited the product gallery and was briefed
through a special video and presentation on the mine’s history, capacity, safety systems, paste filling and
tele-remote operations. He also visited the control room and reviewed remote-operated equipment,
witnessing the company’s technology-led approach to safer and more efficient underground mining. The
Hon’ble Minister also witnessed a live demonstration by India’s first women mine rescue team,
recognising the company’s efforts towards inclusion, capability-building and safety excellence in mining
operations.He interacted with 54 Zinc Ratna contract workers, women mining engineers and other employees during
lunch at the Sindesar Khurd Mine canteen, acknowledging their contribution to Hindustan Zinc’s
operational excellence and India’s mining growth story.
At Dariba Smelting Complex, the Hon’ble Minister visited the control room, cell house and cathode yard,
gaining an overview of Hindustan Zinc’s integrated mining-to-metal capabilities and its focus on safe,
responsible and value-added metals production.
He also met women leaders at the complex and appreciated Hindustan Zinc’s efforts towards inclusion,
leadership development and workforce diversity, including its 26.3% women workforce in the metals and
mining sector.
He also interacted with beneficiaries of the company’s flagship Unchi Udaan programme, who have gone
on to build successful careers and are now employed with Coal India.He was also briefed on Hindustan Zinc’s sustainability journey, including its efforts towards responsible
mining, resource efficiency, water stewardship, energy transition, low-carbon growth and technology-led
transformation across operations. Discussions centred on the role of Indian mining companies in
advancing mineral security, strengthening domestic value chains and supporting the country’s long-term
economic growth.
***
Prajith Kumar MV
(Release ID: 2262474) Visitor Counter : 212
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