Dhanbad, Dec. 24 -- Union minister for coal and mines G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday inaugurated a Centre of Excellence under the National Critical Mineral Mission and a Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS) at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, underscoring the role of technology-led, sustainable mining in India's growth trajectory. At the institute's Technology Innovation Hub TEXMiN, the Centre of Excellence aims to strengthen indigenous capabilities in exploration, processing and sustainable utilisation of critical minerals essential for energy transition and advanced manufacturing. The minister also reviewed digital mining and critical mineral initiatives under the Technology Translation and Research Platform, focusing on automation, analytics and mine digitisation. The VRMS facility, developed by IIT (ISM) Dhanbad in collaboration with Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries NCL, ECL and CMPDIL, is a 360-degree immersive training system designed to enhance safety, skills and productivity in underground and surface coal mining. The simulator recreates operations of the Jhajhara underground mine and the Nigahi surface mine. Addressing students and faculty, the minister said India is among the fastest-growing major economies and highlighted mining as a strategic sector that must balance growth with environmental responsibility. He called for adoption of international standards and wider use of digitalisation....