IIT (ISM) Dhanbad in close collaboration with its Research Park recognised as Centre of Excellence under National Critical Mineral Mission
Remove Ads
The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, announces its recognition as one of the seven Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the prestigious National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), launched by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India. This recognition marks a significant milestone in India's journey toward strengthening its scientific, technological, and industrial capabilities in the critical minerals sector The recognition has been made possible through IIT(ISM) Dhanbad's close partnership with its Technology Translation Research Park , TEXMiN (Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation, supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India), and a consortium of leading academic institutions, industry players, and innovation partners, both from India and abroad. Together, they have collaboratively built a strong proposal and vision aligned with NCMM's objective of achieving self-reliance across the critical minerals value chain.Operating in a Hub-and-Spoke model, the Centre of Excellence at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad brings together a dynamic mix of international and national partners. Global academic collaborators include Curtin University (Australia), University of Cambridge (UK), and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), while Indian academic partners include IIT (BHU) Varanasi and IIT Gandhinagar. Innovation and startup partners such as Novasensa, a clean energy and circular economy startup, and the Centre for Process Innovation Limited (CPI), UK, have also joined forces to contribute to cutting-edge, deployable technologies. Industry partners like Hindustan Copper Limited MOIL Ltd , MMPL, and a few other alliance partners bring critical field expertise, infrastructure, and co-investment, enabling real-world validation and accelerated translation of CRM technologies from lab to market.TEXMiN, housed within IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, serves as the translational backbone of this initiative, enabling technology readiness and real-world implementation of research outcomes. The CoE's projects are directly aligned with NCMM's vision, focusing on AI/ML-based mineral exploration, core sample digitization, real-time traceability of CRM (Critical and Strategic Minerals), and beneficiation and recycling solutions. This research will be instrumental in building secure and resilient mineral supply chains critical to clean energy, e-mobility, electronics, and strategic sectors such as defence and space.Sukumar Mishra, Director of IIT(ISM) Dhanbad and Chairman of the Governing Board, TEXMiN, said in a statement, 'We are proud to be recognized as a Centre of Excellence under NCMM. This achievement marks a pivotal moment for IIT(ISM), TEXMiN, and our incredible partners as we work toward making India self-reliant in critical mineral technologies and value chains. Through deep academic, industrial, and translational partnerships, we aim to lead impactful research, innovation, and deployment in this strategic sector.'Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director of IIT(ISM) Dhanbad and Project Director of TEXMiN, added, 'TEXMiN is honoured to serve as the translational backbone of this CoE. Our focus will be on moonshot projects across AI/ML-enabled exploration, rock core digitization, CRM traceability dashboards, and pilot plant beneficiation of strategic minerals. This CoE will be a catalyst for India's mineral technology revolution.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
7 minutes ago
- Mint
Govt draws up 50-country export plan to offset Trump tariff hit
New Delhi: The commerce ministry has shortlisted 50 countries as priority markets for diversifying exports to cushion the impact of steep US tariffs on Indian goods, two senior government officials said. These nations, spread across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and other key regions, together account for nearly 90% of India's outbound shipments. The plan focuses on redirecting goods affected by the tariff escalation — including textiles, seafood, engineering goods, gems and jewellery, petroleum products and chemicals—to alternative buyers through targeted trade promotion and market access initiatives. Meetings are taking place in the commerce ministry to draw up alternative plans for routing the affected products to potential markets. Officials from various ministries and industry bodies have been brainstorming to identify product-specific opportunities and push for faster trade facilitation with these destinations, said the first among the two mentioned above. The goal is to calibrate export plans without impacting labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, engineering goods, and agricultural and processed food exports, including shrimps. The US remains India's largest single-country export destination, but the government's strategy aims to reduce that dependence and secure long-term resilience for exporters hit by the ongoing tariff dispute. In FY25, India exported goods worth $86.5 billion to the US, or about 20% of the country's total merchandise exports of $433.56 billion. The move comes after US President Donald Trump announced a new 25% duty on Indian goods for its continued purchase of Russian oil, adding to an existing 25% tariff. The duties are set to take effect on 27 August, leaving a window for both sides to reach an agreement. The tariffs threaten to disrupt trade flows between the two countries and sectors like textiles, engineering goods, marine products, gems and jewellery and leather are particularly vulnerable. They could see exports fall by as much as 40%. In addition to seeking out new markets, the government is considering offering financial relief to exporters, said the second senior official. The government is also considering reintroducing the Interest Equalization Scheme (IES), which offers exporters a subsidy on interest rates to lower borrowing costs, and such initiatives would be funded by a new ₹20,000 crore export promotion mission. For engineering goods, the government is focusing on expanding exports to new target markets such as Sao Tome, Macao, Georgia, Croatia, Guinea-Bissau, Belize, Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Lithuania, Norway, Somalia, and Greece. Currently, key export destinations for Indian engineering goods include the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Italy. The Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Mexico, Japan, and Kuwait are also seen as promising markets. For agricultural and processed food products, the focus will be on Nigeria, Switzerland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Mexico, Sweden, Portugal, Cameroon, Djibouti, Latvia, Egypt, Senegal, Canada, Argentina, and Brazil. With tariffs in the US now at 50% for many garment products, Indian exporters are exploring alternative markets such as the UK, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and emerging economies in Africa and Latin America to maintain shipments and offset expected order losses. The sectors that are of concern are textiles (exports worth $10.91 billion), engineering goods ($19.16 billion), agriculture ($2.53 billion), gems and jewellery ($9.94 billion), leather ($948.47 million), marine products ($2.68 billion), and plastics ($1.92 billion).
Mint
9 minutes ago
- Mint
Best stock recommendations today: MarketSmith India's top picks for 12 August
India's benchmark equity indices closed higher on Monday, snapping a four-day losing streak. The Nifty 50 gained 0.91% to end just above 24,550, while the BSE Sensex jumped 746 points to settle near 80,604. State Bank of India and Grasim Industries led the gains, each rising around 2.2% on strong quarterly earnings, which lifted sentiment in PSU banks (up ~2%) and supported mid- and small-cap strength. However, volatility lingered amid concerns over potential US tariffs on Indian goods and geopolitical uncertainty ahead of the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting. Why it's recommended : Promising future growth outlook, prudent debt management, competitive positioning within the telecom sector : Promising future growth outlook, prudent debt management, competitive positioning within the telecom sector Key metrics : P/E: 61.07, 52-week high: ₹ 2,052.90, volume: ₹ 25.66 crore : P/E: 61.07, 52-week high: 2,052.90, volume: 25.66 crore Technical analysis : Bounces from its 100-DMA : Bounces from its 100-DMA Risk factors : Regional concentration, legal & regulatory overhangs, risk from corporate actions : Regional concentration, legal & regulatory overhangs, risk from corporate actions Buy at : ₹ 1,756.20 : 1,756.20 Target price : ₹ 1,940 in two to three months : 1,940 in two to three months Stop loss: ₹ 1,690 Why it's recommended : Diversified portfolio and strong order book, international expansion and infrastructure momentum, foray into aerospace and defence engineering : Diversified portfolio and strong order book, international expansion and infrastructure momentum, foray into aerospace and defence engineering Key metrics : P/E: 27.26; 52-week high: ₹ 3,963; volume: ₹ 665.50 crore : P/E: 27.26; 52-week high: 3,963; volume: 665.50 crore Technical analysis : Consumption play : Consumption play Risk factors : Cyclical and margin pressure in E&C, geopolitical and market dependency risks. : Cyclical and margin pressure in E&C, geopolitical and market dependency risks. Buy at : ₹ 3,650–3,700 : 3,650–3,700 Target price : ₹ 3,900 in two to three months : 3,900 in two to three months Stop loss: ₹ 3,550 Indian equities kicked off the week on a strong note, staging a sharp rebound after recent declines. On Monday, 11 August, the Nifty 50 rose 0.91% to close at 24,585.05, while the BSE Sensex gained 0.93% to end at 80,604.08. The recovery came after last week's nearly 1% drop, the longest weekly losing streak in five years, triggered by US tariff concerns and disappointing corporate earnings. Sentiment stayed upbeat through the session, strengthening in the second half as heavyweights drove a broad-based advance. Realty, auto, and pharma stocks led the gains, while midcap and smallcap indices added between 0.34% and 0.79%, aligning with the positive trend. The Nifty formed a higher-high and higher-low pattern and reclaimed its 100-DMA, a constructive sign for trend watchers. RSI rebounded from oversold territory to 41, hinting at improving momentum. However, MACD remains in a bearish crossover, trading below both its signal line and the zero axis, underscoring lingering downside risk. According to O'Neil's methodology, the market status has been downgraded to Uptrend Under Pressure after the Nifty breached its 50-DMA and the distribution day count rose to six. A sustained close above 24,600 could reinforce bullish momentum and open the door to 24,800–24,850 in the near term. On the downside, 24,330 serves as immediate support; a decisive break below could trigger a retest of 24,200 and possibly 24,000. Traders should track these levels closely for directional cues. Nifty Bank opened Monday on a muted note but soon drew buying interest, closing firmly in the green. The index formed a bullish candle on the daily chart, maintaining a lower-high and lower-low structure while finding crucial support near its 100-DMA. All constituents ended higher, led by State Bank of India (+2.3%), with Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda posting notable gains. The broad-based strength underscores improving sentiment in the banking space, supported by favourable macro trends and upbeat earnings momentum. On the technical front, RSI edged up to 42, signalling a modest pickup in momentum, though the MACD's negative crossover keeps short-term caution in play. Under O'Neil's methodology, Nifty Bank remains in an Uptrend Under Pressure, reflecting a still-fragile environment. The index's ability to hold above the 100-DMA will be key for sustaining the rebound. An upside move toward 56,000 is possible if buying persists, while a break below 54,900 could invite renewed weakness and increase volatility in the sessions ahead. MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market. Trade name: William O'Neil India Pvt. Ltd. (Sebi Registered Research Analyst Registration No.: INH000015543). Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Mint
9 minutes ago
- Mint
Small exporters are most at risk from Trump's tariffs. India weighs relief
New Delhi: The government is weighing short-term measures, including interest relief and bridge loans, to small exporters as US tariffs increase costs, eroding their competitiveness, said two people aware of the matter. Public sector banks with significant exposure to export credit have been asked to identify steps that can be implemented quickly to prevent margin erosion and losses for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) exporters, the people said on the condition of anonymity. 'It is being examined whether the government can work with banks to offer exporters discounts on interest payments through interest-rate realignments or waive processing fees," the first person said. 'Banks may also consider bridge loans by extending repayment tenures for exporters with strong credit profiles, and bridge financing could be extended to firms with a proven track record." The urgency follows US President Donald Trump's decision to impose an additional 25% penalty tariff on Indian imports over New Delhi's continued purchases of Russian oil and arms, taking the total duty on most goods to 50%. Unless a breakthrough is reached during the ongoing 21-day negotiation window, the new duties will take effect on 27 August. Meanwhile, lenders with a strong overseas presence could also help exporters find new buyers and enter alternative markets, the second person quoted earlier said, requesting anonymity. 'The government is in discussions with industry representatives and banks to identify possible interventions." 'Exporters have also been encouraged to flag other support measures," the person added. A finance ministry spokesperson did not respond to emailed queries. Moody's has warned that the tariffs could undermine India's manufacturing ambitions in high-value sectors such as electronics, potentially reversing recent investment gains. In a report last week, the rating agency said India faces a difficult choice: continue sourcing cheaper Russian oil and risk losing competitiveness in its largest export market, or curb purchases to avoid tariffs, potentially driving up oil prices, accelerating inflation, and widening the current account deficit. Experts said the steep U.S. tariffs will hit labour-intensive, MSME-driven sectors the hardest, with rates as high as 50% on textiles, marine goods, gems and jewellery, and chemicals. This could make Indian exports less competitive globally, enabling Vietnam and Bangladesh to gain at India's expense, and putting millions of jobs at risk in the apparel, footwear, and seafood sectors. Export orders are already being paused or cancelled due to higher landed costs. 'In the short run, it is necessary to provide relief to the exporters. I believe that within 2-3 years, the exporters will find alternate global markets or will create a domestic market," said Ramendra Verma, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat. With the US market becoming uncompetitive, Verma said, MSMEs will need to redesign products, develop new supply chains, and expand distribution. 'This will require access to capital and innovative financing to suit the change in the business scenario. Banks are also exploring collateral-free lending and customised credit scoring models for MSMEs." Alternative markets to the US could include Europe, ASEAN, Africa, and the Middle East. 'Banks can play a major role in supporting MSMEs by offering interest-free or low-interest loans, loans without collateral, and letters of credit or bank guarantees at lower rates. Since limited access to finance is one of the biggest hurdles for MSMEs, such measures can significantly strengthen their ability to compete and grow," said Vimal Pruthi, partner, International Trade, EY India. 'MSMEs should work with the government to find and grow sales in other countries," he said. 'The 'Source from India' platform, which was expanded in June 2025, helps MSMEs reach global buyers by creating online pages to showcase their products and certifications."
