India's Steel Sector Embarks on AI-Driven Transformation for Global Leadership

The roadmap reflects a strategic recognition that the next phase of growth in steel will be defined not only by expanded capacity but also by intelligent systems, predictive analytics, automation, and data-driven decision-making embedded across the value chain.

At the core of the initiative is the AI in Steel Pavilion, a first-of-its-kind collaborative platform that showcases real-time industry problem statements and invites AI solution providers, startups, technology firms, and research institutions to co-create practical and scalable solutions.

The pavilion signals a clear transition from incremental digitisation efforts to mission-mode AI integration across mining, logistics, production, quality assurance, marketing, and corporate governance. It underscores the Ministry's intent to move from isolated pilot projects to systemic transformation.

A high-level session brought together leading steel producers, iron ore miners, senior policymakers, and AI innovators to deliberate on the sector's digital future. Major public sector enterprises and private stakeholders presented their forward-looking digitalisation roadmaps, outlining priority areas where AI interventions can create immediate and long-term value.

The dialogue focused on execution. Specific high-impact use cases were identified, and industry leaders articulated the technological capabilities they seek from AI companies and startups, including predictive maintenance algorithms, computer vision systems, supply chain optimisation models, and intelligent decision support systems.

The session enabled a two-way exchange. Industry representatives outlined operational challenges such as reducing downtime, improving yield, enhancing worker safety, optimising raw material blending, lowering emissions, and improving demand forecasting.

AI companies expressed their readiness to contribute advanced technological solutions tailored to these needs. This convergence is expected to create a structured innovation pipeline, ensuring that promising AI solutions are rapidly tested, validated, and scaled across the steel ecosystem.

In his address, Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik highlighted the remarkable growth trajectory of India's steel sector. Looking ahead to the vision of a developed India by 2047, he said that the Ministry has set ambitious and time-bound benchmarks: Crude steel capacity is targeted to increase from the current level of approximately 200 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes by 2030 to 2031 and further to 400 million tonnes by 2035 to 2036.

This expansion will be supported by parallel growth in mining output, logistics networks, beneficiation capacity, and downstream value addition. Intelligent automation, digital twins, advanced analytics, and AI-driven process control systems will be critical to ensuring that India's steel growth remains globally competitive and environmentally responsible.

Industry leaders also articulated the support required from AI startups, including domain-specific customisation, scalable system architectures, cybersecurity resilience, multilingual interfaces to facilitate workforce adoption, and solutions tailored to Indian operating conditions.

Besides, the ministry invited AI developers, deep technology startups, academic institutions, and research laboratories to leverage the Steel Research and Technology Mission of India as a live sandbox environment.

- IANS