TEXMiN IIT(ISM) Dhanbad Launches India’s First Private 5G-Powered Digital Mining Infrastructure Lab
New Delhi – In a groundbreaking move towards advanced Mining 4.0 capabilities, the Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad has inaugurated the Digital Mining Infrastructure (DMI) Lab. This facility is the first of its kind in India, featuring a dedicated Private 5G-enabled mining technology testbed aimed at developing, validating, and demonstrating next-generation digital mining solutions.
Inauguration Ceremony
The DMI Lab was officially inaugurated by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India. The event was attended by notable figures including Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director of IIT(ISM) Dhanbad & Chairman of the Hub Governing Board of the TEXMiN Foundation, and Dr. Parag Agrawal, Deputy Director General of the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) under the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.
Funding and Purpose
This innovative lab has been funded under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The DMI Lab serves as a national facility designed to empower startups, researchers, mining companies, and technology developers. Its primary goal is to create solutions for some of India’s most challenging and remote mining environments.
The establishment of the DMI Lab aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, which aims to enhance India’s technological independence by promoting homegrown innovations in critical and strategic mining infrastructure.
Significance of the DMI Lab
Dr. Parag Agrawal emphasized the importance of the DMI Lab, stating that it marks a pivotal moment in applying advanced telecom technologies to mission-critical sectors. He noted that private 5G-enabled mining innovation, once a theoretical ambition, has now become a functioning reality. This facility is expected to support faster, safer, and more autonomous mining operations while serving as a model for how India can achieve global leadership in industrial digital transformation.
Technological Advancements
Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director of IIT(ISM) Dhanbad and Project Director of the TEXMiN Foundation, highlighted that Mining 4.0 requires intelligent systems, real-time analytics, and cyber-physical integration—capabilities that have traditionally relied on foreign technologies. With the DMI Lab, India has indigenized this entire innovation stack, marking a significant technological leap that will empower the country with the necessary infrastructure, skill pathways, and research ecosystem to lead mining innovations for decades to come.
Building a Collaborative Ecosystem
Suraj Prakash, CEO of the TEXMiN Foundation, described the DMI Lab as more than just a technology testbed; it is the nucleus of India’s mining innovation future. By integrating Indian startups, research institutions, and industry partners on a single platform, the lab aims to develop solutions that not only automate mining but also fundamentally reimagine how mines operate, communicate, and make decisions.
The vision is to ensure that India’s mining sector evolves with a digital-first DNA, setting global benchmarks for efficiency, sustainability, and safety.
Addressing National Needs
The DMI Lab addresses a critical national need for a secure and dedicated ecosystem to develop and test cyber-physical mining technologies. It supports the 4S vision of Smart, Safe, Sustainable, and Social Mining. Built as a sophisticated phygital mining environment, the lab replicates both underground and opencast mining conditions, enabling real-time simulation, testing, and validation of digital mining tools before they are deployed in the field.
Innovative Technologies Integrated into the DMI Lab
The DMI Lab integrates over 15 cutting-edge, Make-in-India technologies, several of which are being demonstrated for the first time in Indian mining history. These technologies include:
- Private 5G network for high-speed, secure, and reliable communication in remote mines.
- Digital Twinning of mining environments for predictive modeling and operation planning.
- AI/ML-powered analytics for real-time insights and automated decision-making.
- Intelligent IoT sensor networks for environmental, safety, and operational monitoring.
- Remote operation systems enabling tele-mining from control centers.
- Advanced edge computing and distributed cloud architecture.
- Immersive holographic visualization for training and hazard assessment.
- Precision drones and autonomous systems for inspection, mapping, and surveillance.
- All-weather command and control stations designed for rugged mining terrains.
A National Hub for Mining Technologies
With built-in capabilities for multi-sensor data analysis, connectivity testing, automation trials, and simulated mine operations, the DMI Lab serves as a national hub for creating indigenous, scalable, and commercially deployable mining technologies for India’s next decade of mineral development.
This initiative represents a historic collaboration among multiple Indian startups, IIT(ISM) researchers, and the TEXMiN’s deep technology ecosystem, all working together to build future-ready mining technologies within India. It signifies a significant stride toward establishing global leadership in Mining 4.0 innovation and reducing dependency on imported technologies.
Note: This article is based on information available as of December 2025 and aims to provide insights into the advancements in India’s mining sector through innovative technology.
