Metals & Mining Industry in India

Investments/ Developments

Some of the investments/ developments in the Metals & Mining sector in the recent past are as follows:

• On February 26, 2026, NMDC’s R&D Centre signed an MoU with IIT Hyderabad to advance indigenous mineral processing, green steelmaking, critical mineral extraction, AI-enabled mining and Mining 4.0 technologies, strengthening India’s metals and mining innovation and sustainable development.
• India is accelerating critical minerals exploration and mining infrastructure under Atmanirbhar Bharat to strengthen supply chains for EVs, renewable energy and defence, while, on May 10, 2026, experts highlighted sustainable CSR initiatives supporting the metals and mining sector.
• Further developments noted on February 18, 2026 indicate that the industry is undergoing structural transformation through policy support such as the Critical Minerals framework, improved regulatory mechanisms, and growing global and domestic investments. The sector is also focusing on digitalisation, ESG practices, and supply chain strengthening, positioning it as a key driver of long-term economic growth and investment expansion.
• India’s metals and mining sector is entering a strong growth phase, supported by government reforms, accelerated mine auctions, and increased domestic exploration, as highlighted on November 6, 2025. The sector is also benefiting from rising demand for critical minerals linked to the global energy transition, alongside a push for mineral self-reliance and higher private sector participation.
• As of October 2025, non-fossil fuel sources now contribute 250.6 GW (49%) of total capacity, including 200.29 GW renewable and 8.78 GW nuclear.
• During the earnings call for Q2 FY26, Tata Steel plans a 7-7.5 million tonne capacity expansion across its Indian operations, with major brownfield projects at Kalinganagar, Neelachal, Meramandali, Ludhiana and Gamharia moving through planning and approval stages.
• India plans to train 5.7 million workers by 2030 in the mining sector under the National Critical Mineral Mission to boost domestic critical mineral production and cut import dependence.
• As of August 2025, JSW Steel and Japan’s JFE Steel are planning to jointly invest Rs. 5,845 crore (US$ 682 million) to expand capacity for cold-rolled grain-oriented electrical steel (CRGO) to 3,50,000 tonnes per annum by FY28 by scaling up the Nashik plant from 50,000 to 2,50,000 TPA and increasing the Vijayanagar unit’s capacity to 1,00,000 TPA.
• On July 7, 2025, Tata Steel signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Australia’s InQuik Group to bring modular bridge construction technology to India, using prefabricated steel formwork filled with concrete on site to enable faster, cost-effective, climate resilient and scalable bridge infrastructure, especially useful in remote regions.
• NALCO produced 37,736 Metric Tonne of Aluminium and sold 30,595 Metric Tonne of Aluminium metal in April, 2026.
• BALCO produced 50,994 Metric Tonne of Aluminium and sold 42,322 Metric Tonne of Aluminium metal in April, 2026.
• Vedanta Limited (Aluminium) produced 1,52,638 Metric Tonne of Aluminium and sold 1,43,666 Metric Tonne of Aluminium metal in April, 2026.
• In June 2025, India and Australia strengthened their Critical Minerals Investment Partnership to co-invest in lithium and cobalt projects and build resilient clean-energy supply chains.
• Between April 2000-March 2026, FDI inflows in the metallurgical industry stood at Rs. 1.20 lakh crore (US$ 19.3 billion), followed by the mining Rs. 21,794.45 crore (US$ 3.54 billion), diamond & gold ornaments Rs. 9,962.78 crore (US$ 1.54 billion), and coal production Rs. 119.19 crore (US$ 27.73 million).
• India’s steel exports in July 2025 saw a higher share from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Bulgaria, the US and Qatar, while the share of the UAE, Nepal and Portugal declined compared to July 2024.
• With the fifth-largest coal reserves and as the second-largest consumer, coal remains crucial for India, contributing 55% to the national energy mix and fuelling over 74% of total power generation as of April 2025.
• On March 28, 2025, AM/NS India has secured 890 hectares of land in Rajayyapeta, Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh for a new integrated steel mill with planned capacity of about 7 MTPA of crude steel, expanding beyond its Hazira operations to meet rising domestic demand.
• In January 2025, the Ministry of Steel has introduced the PLI Scheme 1.1 for specialty steel, covering five product categories, which aligns with the existing PLI Scheme. This initiative aims to encourage greater participation in response to industry requests for relaxation. The PLI Scheme 1.1 will be open for applications from January 6 to January 31, 2025, and will be implemented from FY26 to FY30.
• India and Kazakhstan have launched IREUK Titanium Limited, a joint venture to produce Titanium Slag in India, marking India's first venture in Central Asia. The company will convert low-grade Ilmenite into high-grade titanium feedstock, aiming to enhance the titanium value chain in India and create jobs in Odisha.
• Southeastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India in Chhattisgarh, has reached a milestone with its Gevra and Kusmunda coal mines ranking 2nd and 4th on WorldAtlas.com’s list of the world's largest coal mines. Located in Korba district, these mines together produce over 100 million tons of coal annually, accounting for about 10% of India’s total coal production.
• India is experiencing a construction boom driven by a growing housing economy and significant government infrastructure investments. The country is projected to become the third-largest construction market in the world, following China and the US, by 2025.