The Ministry of Steel has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap on digital opportunities in the steel sector, targeting an increase in crude steel capacity from 200 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes by 2030- 2031 and further to 400 million tonnes by 2035-2036.
Feb 24, 2026
The Ministry of Steel has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap on digital opportunities in the steel sector in India AI Impact Summit 2026, reaffirming its commitment to transform India into a technology-driven global steel powerhouse. The roadmap reflects the next phase of growth in the steel sector, that is defined not just 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 was the AI in Steel Pavilion, a first-of-its-kind collaborative platform that showcased real-time industry problem statements and invited AI solution providers, startups, technology firms, and research institutions to co-create practical and scalable solutions. Further, 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 digitalization roadmaps, outlining priority areas where AI interventions can create immediate and long-term value.
The dialogue focused on execution and specific high-impact use-cases were identified. Industry leaders articulated the technological capabilities they seek from AI companies and startups, including predictive maintenance algorithms, computer vision systems, supply chain optimization models, and intelligent decision support systems.
Industry representatives also outlined operational challenges that it has to overcome such as reducing downtime, improving yield, enhancing worker safety, optimizing 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.
India’s steel consumption has nearly doubled from 77 million tonnes in 2014-2015 to 152 million tonnes in 2024- 2025, reflecting the rapid pace of infrastructure expansion, urbanization, manufacturing growth, and rising domestic demand. Major national initiatives in railways, highways, housing, renewable energy, defence production, and industrial corridors have reinforced steel’s central role in nation building.
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Looking ahead, the Ministry of Steel has set ambitious and time-bound targets such as crude steel capacity that is targeted to increase from the current level of approximately 200 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes by 2030- 2031 and further to 400 million tonnes by 2035-2036. This expansion will be supported by rapid AI scaling such as intelligent capacity utilization, real-time monitoring, efficient energy management, decarbonisation strategies, and optimized capital deployment. AI is therefore positioned as a strategic enabler rather than a peripheral tool. The Secretary of Steel emphasized that as capacity expands, productivity, quality, safety, and sustainability must improve proportionately. Intelligent automation, digital twins, advanced analytics, and AI-driven process control systems will be critical in ensuring that India’s steel growth remains globally competitive and environmentally responsible.
