Ashoka University and IIT Dhanbad Partner to Advance India's Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Strategy

New Delhi — Two leading research institutions have joined forces to tackle India's energy transition and critical minerals challenges through an ambitious three-year partnership.

The Ashoka Centre for a People-Centric Energy Transition (ACPET) at Ashoka University in the Delhi-NCR region and the Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, established with support from the Department of Science & Technology, have formalized their collaboration to drive research, policy development, and skill-building initiatives.

The partnership combines ACPET's expertise in energy transition knowledge and policy engagement with TEXMiN's technological capabilities in mining exploration. TEXMiN specializes in cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, robotics, and Mining 4.0 technologies designed to enhance efficiency throughout the mining sector.

The two institutions will pursue research on critical and strategic minerals, focusing on their discovery, evaluation, responsible extraction, and supply chain management. They will also investigate innovative methods for repurposing abandoned mines for renewable energy projects, environmental restoration, and local economic development.

A central pillar of the initiative involves adopting a community-oriented perspective on mineral exploration. The collaboration will examine connections between how mineral resources are governed, the deployment of clean energy infrastructure, and fair transition strategies for communities dependent on mining activities. Additionally, researchers will apply environmental and climate analytics to mining regions through surveys and modelling to evaluate ecological impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, land and water consumption, and climate-related vulnerabilities.

The timing of this partnership reflects India's accelerating shift toward renewable energy and its growing importance in the global competition for critical minerals. The initiative aligns with India's strategic objectives, including energy independence, reduced reliance on imported critical minerals, and the nation's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, all contributing to the Viksit Bharat 2047 development agenda.

Professor Dheeraj Kumar, who directs the TEXMiN project and serves as Deputy Director of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. "We are excited with the new partnership with Ashoka University's Center for a People-Centric Energy Transition. Through this partnership, we aim to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies across the mining value chain while ensuring that sustainability and societal impact remain central. Together, we can enable safe, smart, and sustainable mining for India's future," he said.

Vaibhav Chowdhary, Director of ACPET, emphasized the inclusive dimension of India's energy transition. "India's energy transition must be both sustainable and inclusive. This collaboration with TEXMiN is designed to combine cutting-edge technological innovation with people-centric policy thinking to address critical minerals, energy security, and community resilience in an integrated manner," he noted.

The collaboration will generate research projects, technical studies, academic publications, and policy documents authored by researchers and faculty from both institutions. The partners plan to develop joint proposals for funding from domestic and international sources.

Knowledge dissemination will occur through seminars, symposiums, and specialized technical meetings. The initiative also includes student and faculty exchange programmes to facilitate mutual learning and professional development across the two organizations.

This comprehensive partnership aims to create integrated solutions spanning the complete energy-minerals value chain, demonstrating shared commitment to building a secure, environmentally responsible, and community-centered energy ecosystem for India.