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With 65% of India's population being young, I urge the youth to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat. While India has become self-reliant in coal production, it still depends on imports for critical minerals. The government is making continuous efforts to bridge this gap, so I urge the industry to train its employees to build expertise in this sector, Said, Mr Satish Chandra Dubey, Hon'ble Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Government of India, at PHDCCI's Conclave on Creating Future Ready Manpower for the Mining Sector on 21st March, 2025 at PHD House, New Delhi
Further, while Stressing on the importance of skill development, he encouraged industrialists to establish colleges and universities focused on mining education to equip the youth with the necessary skills.
The Hon'ble Minister also appreciated PHDCCI for being a torch bearer in facilitating the industry and being its voice. He also emphasized the importance of skill development and said that every individual should possess skills because having the right skills ensures that no one remains unemployed. He highlighted that the mining industry is undergoing a major transformation and urged the mining industry to shift from being a labor-intensive sector to a high-tech industry driven by automation, digitalization, and sustainable development.
Lastly the Hon'ble Minister assured PHDCCI of the government's support for any future initiatives and reiterated that Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions India becoming self-reliant in every sector and contributing significantly towards the 2047 Viksit Bharat goal.
Mr. Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI emphasized the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and shared insights on its significance. He discussed that as we stand at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, we must acknowledge that the mining industry's future will be shaped not just by the resources we extract, but by the human capital we develop.
The skills gap in our mining sector is real and growing. Many of our experienced professionals are approaching retirement, taking with them decades of invaluable knowledge. Meanwhile, attracting young talent to the industry remains challenging due to out-dated perceptions and competition from sectors perceived as more lucrative and innovative.
We must address this challenge head-on through three key pillars: education transformation, industry-academic partnerships, and inclusive workforce development. No single entity can bridge the skills gap alone.
Mr. Aman Sethi, Co-Chair, Minerals & Metals Committee, PHDCCI, envisioned mining communities transforming into hubs of innovation where miners become knowledge workers utilizing technology to extract resources with minimal environmental impact and maximum value creation. He added that mining careers are still perceived as physically demanding and dangerous, discouraging young talent from entering the industry at a time when fresh talent is needed the most. Meanwhile, technological advancements, such as autonomous equipment, AI-powered predictive maintenance, digital twins, and remote operations centers, require entirely new skill sets that current education and training systems are not yet fully equipped to provide. Environmental and social governance requirements are also becoming more stringent demanding mining professionals who understand sustainability, community engagement, and environmental management. He informed that PHDCCI will sign an MoU with the Skill Council for Mining Sector (SCMS) for designing and conducting skill development programs for upskilling the India's mining workforce in new technologies like AI, IOT, Drones, VR-AR, Safety management, waste management, sustaniability and so on to make them future ready and become more productive
Dr Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, informed that PHDCCI is celebrating 120 years of legacy this year, and the key focus areas in the current era are digital transformation, sustainability, and global competitiveness. In this context, skilling is crucial in the mining sector. As technology advances people need to be skilled in AI and the latest innovations.
He added, In India, five million people enter the workforce annually, making it the youngest country in the world, which is why skill development is so important. There is also a need for a stronger connection between industry and academia and ensuring that school and university curriculum align with industry requirements. Before technology changes, it is essential to take proactive steps. The ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn is critical, and investing in people and skills is key to progress.
Mr Pankaj Satija, Chairman, Skill Council for Mining Sector & Executive In Charge, Ferro Alloys Mineral Division, Tata Steel Ltd. discussed the Prime Minister's request to revive Nalanda University and mentioned that Skill Mining is working on this initiative. He also noted that in other countries, logistics and productivity are significantly higher and India must focus on being cost competitive which can be achieved by focusing on skill development. He informed that SCMS was encouraging entry of women and transgenders in the mining workforce. Mr Satija further highlighted that the percentage of formally skilled workers in India remains low compared to other countries and expressed confidence that, under the guidance of the Hon'ble Prime Minister and state ministries, the situation will improve.
