Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy stated on Wednesday that India’s steel sector must digitalize in order to survive in the long term and compete internationally. It is no longer an choice.

The minister stated that the steel industry’s future will be determined by its capacity to develop intelligent, connected, and data-driven manufacturing ecosystems, not just by its production capacity, while speaking at the “Chintan Shivir 2026 on Digitalisation in the Steel Sector” here.

He emphasized the steel industry‘s importance as a strategic component of India’s economic transformation, assisting infrastructure development, manufacturing, renewable energy, urbanization, transportation, and defense production, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Despite weak demand in many developed countries, India has maintained its position as the world’s second largest steel producer since 2018, the minister said, describing steel as the foundation of national development.

In addition, Kumaraswamy pointed out that since FY22, finished steel consumption has increased by about 13% annually, while crude steel production has increased by almost 8% annually.

By 2030, the government plans to increase India’s steel production capacity to 300 million tons, and by 2035, to 400 million tons. He reiterated this aim.

Furthermore, the minister emphasized the revolutionary power of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Digital Twins, Robotics, and Advanced Data Analytics in changing steel production worldwide.

According to Kumaraswamy, these technologies can lower human mistakes, enhance workplace safety, and help reduce unanticipated downtime.

Industry leaders, technology experts, startup founders, and heads of major public sector steel businesses like SAIL, NMDC, and MOIL were among the participants that were brought together at the event, which was planned by the Ministry of Steel.