Digitalisation: The Future of India’s Steel Industry
Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy emphasized that digitalisation is not just optional but essential for the survival of India’s steel sector. Speaking at the Chintan Shivir 2026 on Digitalisation in the Steel Sector at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, he urged the industry to adopt emerging technologies to maintain global competitiveness.
Kumaraswamy articulated that the future of steel production hinges not solely on capacity but on forming interconnected, intelligent, and data-driven manufacturing ecosystems. He referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious vision for a developed India by 2047, positioning the steel industry as a crucial element of the nation’s economic growth. The minister noted that steel serves as the backbone for infrastructure, manufacturing, renewable energy, urbanization, transportation, and defense.
“Steel is the backbone of nation-building,” Kumaraswamy asserted, highlighting India’s remarkable achievement as the second-largest steel producer globally since 2018. He addressed the current challenges, stating that despite subdued demand in advanced economies, the Indian steel sector continues to thrive, with crude steel production growing at an average annual rate of nearly 8% since FY 2021-22 and finished steel consumption rising by approximately 13% per year.
The minister reiterated the government’s ambitious targets to elevate India’s steel-making capacity to 300 million tonnes by 2030 and 400 million tonnes by 2035. However, he cautioned that these objectives would require tackling issues such as raw material security, operational efficiency, decarbonisation, and modernisation.
Kumaraswamy stressed the transformative role of technology in the industry. He mentioned that advancements such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the Industrial Internet of Things are reshaping steel manufacturing worldwide and should be adopted by Indian steelmakers. He explained that digitalisation and automation can vastly improve productivity, optimize energy consumption, and significantly reduce operational costs, including enhancing workplace safety through predictive maintenance.
The Chintan Shivir included focused discussions on AI-driven mining solutions, the digital transformation of steel plants, PM Gati Shakti initiatives, and applications of Industry 4.0, alongside case studies demonstrating tangible business impacts. Kumaraswamy expressed optimism that insights from the event would foster a smarter, greener, and more efficient steel industry in line with the Prime Minister’s visions of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Organized by the Ministry of Steel, the conclave saw participation from senior officials, CEOs of leading public sector units like SAIL, NMDC, and MOIL, industry leaders, startups, and technology experts, all aimed at enhancing the sector’s technological advancement.
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