**Executive Summary**
The Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G Kishan Reddy, inaugurated a Center of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Minerals Mission and a Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS) at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on 23rd December 2025. The CoE aims to provide research and industry solutions in critical minerals. The VRMS, developed by IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, Coal India Limited, and its subsidiaries, is intended to improve coal mining safety and productivity.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Center of Excellence (CoE):**
* Will act as a national anchor for research and industry scale solutions in critical minerals.
* Focuses on exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, reuse, and waste-to-wealth for critical minerals.
* Partners with industry leaders and international universities.
* Will receive infrastructure support from IIT Gandhinagar, IIT BHU, and CPI(UK).
* **Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS):**
* Developed by IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, Coal India Limited, and its subsidiaries.
* India's first VR-based mine simulator for coal mining safety and productivity.
* Equipped with a 360-degree immersive virtual reality theatre.
* Uses real mine data and provides over 20 training modules covering heavy equipment operation and critical safety SOPs.
* Offers scenario-based assessment and certification for all levels of employees.
* Expected to reduce training time by half and improve safety preparedness.
* **Minister's Interaction with Students:**
* The Minister interacted with students and young researchers at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
* Discussions covered technology and innovation in mining, opportunities in critical minerals, sustainability and clean energy, and the need for research-driven solutions.
* The Minister emphasized the importance of connecting with young minds and viewing them as contributors to national development.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* The Minister highlighted Government initiatives like Coal SETU, Koyla Shakti Dashboard, and Integrated Command & Control Systems.
* These initiatives leverage information technology for real-time monitoring, improved efficiency, and enhanced transparency and safety in the mining sector.
**Impact Analysis**
**IIT (ISM) Dhanbad**
* **Impact:** To take a central role in critical minerals research and development and to lead innovation in mining.
* **Action Required:** Act as the host institution for the CoE under National Critical Minerals Mission and administer the VRMS training.
**Coal India Limited and Subsidiaries (Northern Coalfields Limited and Eastern Coalfields Limited)**
* **Impact:** Improved worker safety and productivity through the use of the VRMS for training.
* **Action Required:** Implement and utilize the VRMS for employee training and assessment.
**Mining Industry Professionals (Operators to Senior Managers)**
* **Impact:** Enhance skills and knowledge related to safety and operations within the mining sector through the VRMS.
* **Action Required:** Participate in VRMS training to improve competency and safety preparedness.
**Students and Young Researchers**
* **Impact:** Gain insights into the evolving role of technology and innovation in the mining sector, career opportunities and alignment of academic and research interests with national development.
* **Action Required:** Participate in discussions and exploration of the role in national development.
Key Entities Referenced
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad: Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, hosting the Center of Excellence and Virtual Reality Mine Simulator
Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS): VR-based mine simulator for coal mining safety and productivity developed by IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
National Critical Minerals Mission: The mission under which the Center of Excellence is established at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Ministry of Coal: The ministry overseeing the event and initiatives related to coal and mining
Coal India Limited: Collaborator in the development of the Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS).
Ministry of Coal
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Inaugurates,
Center of Excellence and Virtual Reality Mine
Simulator at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Minister Interacts with Students of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad;
Discusses Innovation and Sustainability
प्रव तथ: 23 DEC 2025 9:33PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G Kishan Reddy, who is on a two day visit to Jharkhand, today
inaugurated the Center of Excellence under National Critical Minerals Mission hosted in IIT (ISM)
Dhanbad. Minister Shri Reddy also inaugurated the Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS). Shri Reddy
interacted with the students of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, which turned into a candid exchange of ideas.
The CoE inaugurated by the minister will act as a national anchor for research and industry scale solutions
in critical minerals, focusing in areas of exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, reuse and waste-to-
wealth for critical minerals. The CoE will partner with industry leaders and international universities such
as University of Cambridge & St Petersburg University and will receive infrastructure support from IIT
Gandhinagar, IIT BHU and CPI(UK).
Developed by IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, in collaboration with Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries Northern
Coalfields Limited and Eastern Coalfields Limited, VRMS is India’s first VR based mine simulator for
coal mining safety and productivity. Equipped with a 360-degree immersive virtual reality theatre, the
VRMS uses real mine data and provides more than 20 training modules covering heavy equipmentoperation and critical safety SOPs. The VRMS will provide scenario based assessment and certification
for all levels of employees, from operators to senior managers and is expected to cut training time by half,
while ensuring improved safety preparedness.
In a warm and informal interaction, the Minister spent time with students and young researchers of IIT
(ISM) Dhanbad at RD Chowk, a popular and age-old meeting point for students that has long been part of
campus life and culture.
Over a cup of tea, the interaction moved beyond formalities, creating an open environment for candid
conversations and free exchange of ideas.
Students shared their academic journeys, research interests and career aspirations, while discussions
touched upon the evolving role of technology and innovation in mining, opportunities in critical minerals,
sustainability and clean energy, and the need for research-driven, indigenous solutions.The Minister encouraged students to think beyond conventional roles and view themselves as contributors
to national development and problem-solvers for the mining and energy sectors.
Emphasising the importance of staying connected with young minds, the Minister reiterated that India’s
future in strategic sectors will be shaped by curious, confident and innovation-driven youth. The
interaction symbolised a leadership approach rooted in accessibility, dialogue and trust, reinforcing the
belief that meaningful progress emerges when governance engages directly with the aspirations of the next
generation.
Earlier in his address, Shri G Kishan Reddy underscored the institution’s pivotal role in shaping India’s
mining future through knowledge creation, research, and innovation. He stated that Indian School of
Mines (ISM) is not only a premier institute for producing skilled mining professionals but also a cradle of
innovation and new technological vision for the sector.
Shri Reddy, further stated that the mining sector is presently at a historic juncture, where technology,
critical minerals, sustainability and national security are collectively driving the vision of Aatmanirbhar
Bharat. He noted that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, every sector
of the economy is witnessing a strong push towards information technology, innovation and research-
driven growth. Highlighting the Central Government’s emphasis on research and development, he pointed
out that India has significantly increased its national R&D investment, emerged as the world’s sixth-
highest country in patent filings, and witnessed rapid expansion of its deep-tech and innovation
ecosystem. The Minister highlighted the initiatives like Coal SETU, the Koyla Shakti Dashboard and
Integrated Command & Control Systems, which are leveraging information technology to enable real-time
monitoring, improve efficiency, and strengthen transparency and safety in the mining sector.
*****
Shuhaib T
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2207948) आगंतुक पटल : 1088
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Telugu