India has taken a major leap towards next-generation Mining 4.0 capabilities with the launch of the Digital Mining Infrastructure (DMI) Lab at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad. Developed by the Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN), the new lab is the nation’s first Private 5G-enabled mining technology testbed designed to accelerate smart, safe, and sustainable mining innovation.
The facility was inaugurated by senior government leadership, marking a landmark step in India’s drive to build technologically advanced, home-grown mining solutions.
A national milestone for mining 4.0
Backed jointly by the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) of the Department of Telecommunications, the DMI Lab has been created as an advanced national research and testing centre for startups, mining companies, researchers, and technology developers.
Government and institutional leaders emphasised that the lab reflects India’s growing ability to develop indigenous, mission-critical technologies. They noted that the availability of a dedicated Private 5G mining testbed—once considered an ambitious concept—now positions India to accelerate autonomy, safety, and digital transformation across the mining sector.
Institutional leaders from IIT(ISM) highlighted that Mining 4.0 demands advanced cyber-physical systems, real-time digital analytics, and intelligent automation. The new lab, they explained, enables India to design and validate these capabilities domestically rather than relying on imported systems. TEXMiN leadership added that the DMI Lab will act as a central innovation engine, enabling Indian startups, researchers, and industry partners to collectively shape a digitally driven mining future.
Designed to power smart, safe, sustainable, and social (4S) Mining
The launch of the DMI Lab addresses a key national priority: building a secure ecosystem to develop and test advanced mining technologies that support India’s 4S vision of Smart, Safe, Sustainable, and Social mining.
Built as a sophisticated “phygital” environment, the facility simulates both underground and surface mining conditions, enabling real-time testing of digital tools before field deployment.
Cutting edge Make-in-India technologies showcased
The lab integrates more than 15 advanced indigenous technologies, many being showcased for the first time in Indian mining. These include:
- Private 5G network for secure, high-speed communication in remote mines
- Digital Twin models for predictive planning and operational simulations
- AI/ML-powered analytics for real-time decision systems
- IoT sensor networks for safety, environmental, and operational monitoring
- Remote operation platforms for tele-mining from centralised control hubs
- Edge computing and distributed cloud systems
- Holographic and immersive visualisation tools for training and hazard evaluation
- Precision drones and autonomous surveillance platforms
- Rugged, all-weather command and control centres
These technologies support multi-sensor data fusion, connectivity testing, automation trials, and virtual mine operations, enabling scalable solutions for the next decade of India’s mineral development.
A collaborative national effort
The DMI Lab represents a major collaborative achievement involving Indian startups, IIT(ISM) researchers, and TEXMiN’s deep-tech ecosystem. The project reinforces India’s commitment to reducing reliance on foreign mining technologies and establishing global leadership in Mining 4.0 innovation.
By acting as a central testbed for future-ready solutions, the lab is expected to drive breakthroughs in mining automation, safety management, digital operations, and sustainability strengthening India’s position as a global hub for mining technology.
