Few people in Russia have heard of the provincial Indian city of Dhanbad or about the country's new national philosophy—"Make in India".
In essence, this is similar to our work on import substitution, but on a vastly different scale. Here, the goal is not just to abandon Western technologies but to first study them and then surpass them. The objective is to make India self-sufficient in everything—from consumer goods to artificial intelligence in both industry and everyday life. In other words, India’s sovereignty is the republic’s primary concern.
The mechanism is complex but clear. The government allocates enormous funds for the construction and development of university campuses across the country. Compared to the poverty in cities and villages, these campuses are true oases for intellectuals. Only about two percent of the youth—those who pass the fiercely competitive selection process—gain access to this gated world of exceptionally well-organized life. However, once admitted, students dedicate themselves to intensive studies from early morning until late at night, striving to become top-tier specialists.
All the necessary conditions are in place. Take, for example, the Mining Department of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad, ranked 41st in the QS subject ranking (a global university ranking agency) among 1,300 competitors. (Saint Petersburg Mining University holds 6th place). The department is staffed by seven Indian professors, along with rotational faculty from Australia, Canada, the USA, and Norway. The state of Jharkhand, where Dhanbad is located, is rich in coal reserves, which form the backbone of India's energy generation. The curriculum is evenly split between theory and practice for both undergraduates and master’s students. From their first year, students acquire practical skills and vocational training in welding, metalworking, and geodetic equipment operation. By the end of their studies, they further deepen their knowledge through scientific research.
But even the theoretical training here is so visual and immersive that it is truly astonishing—especially considering that this is deep in the provinces. For example, they have their own underground mine model, built for 20 million rupees (equivalent to 20 million rubles). This facility allows students to train in conditions as close to reality as possible. They practice emergency responses for gas accumulation, rising water levels, and rescue operations. A similar setup exists in Leoben, Austria, where a training tunnel brings in up to 2 million euros per year for the university. All of Austria’s mining sector conducts emergency drills there. Here, each department is also proactive—in addition to educating specialists, they are focused on generating revenue. Large enterprises contributed to the construction of the mine since many critical training operations cannot be carried out in an active mining site without disrupting production.
And, of course, the virtual training complex is truly impressive. Built for 150 million rupees, it features computer-animated simulations of various equipment and offers full immersion into real-world scenarios—and this is just the introductory stage of professional training.
Just like the real coal mining combine.
Equally cutting-edge equipment is available in the Geology Department, where students work on exploring new mineral deposits, including oil and gas fields. The goal remains the same—to make the republic self-sufficient in essential resources. The head of the Applied Geology Department, Professor Sushanta Sarangi, is well known throughout India for his recent discovery of promising rare earth metal deposits.
Additionally, he is a big admirer of Russia and keeps up with all the news from the special military operation—even briefing his guests on the current operational situation.
There is also a Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Processing, where experiments are conducted on producing clean fuel from coal, developing new alloys, and refining rare earth metal extraction methods.
At the Petroleum and Gas Faculty, the Saint Petersburg Mining University delegation extended their visit by three extra hours instead of the scheduled one. They had to tour all twelve laboratories and answer numerous questions about potential internships for Indian students at the Sablino training ground.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad, with 6,500 students and 393 faculty members, was founded in 1926. It will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. The institute holds the prestigious status of an "Institute of National Importance"—one of 25 in India, corresponding to the number of states.
Now, the most astonishing part — the TexMin Innovation Center. It is emphasized that this is not just a research facility but a center focused on developing and implementing new technologies in India's mining industry. In essence, it is a hub where India's and the world's most advanced mining technologies are brought together. All major Indian companies are aware of its existence and turn to the center for scientific and technological solutions, project support, and training for both new and existing employees. This model is similar to the one used at Saint Petersburg Mining University, particularly in the development of the Sablino training ground—a cutting-edge innovation center specializing in oil and gas technologies, drilling, geological exploration, and other key fields.
The government allocated 1 billion rupees for the construction of the five-story center, while companies contributed another 10 billion—some in cash, others by providing equipment, such as the Swedish-Finnish company Sandvik. Further funding comes from government contracts, such as the development of the national "Green Mines" program, which focuses on ecology, energy consumption, and safety. This is a state-funded project.
However, the majority of funding comes from industry partners and clients—which include all major and mid-sized mining companies in India. The value of a single contract, which is booked years in advance, ranges from $2,000 to $7 million.
A huge focus is placed on startups. In just three years of TexMin’s operation, several hundred startups have grown into fully-fledged, profitable companies. If the university lacks specialists in a particular field, experts are brought in from outside, including from Cambridge University.
As of March 2025, Saint Petersburg Mining University, Empress Catherine II has officially become a partner of both TexMin and the entire Dhanbad mining cluster. The Saint Petersburg delegation signed a Protocol with the university’s Vice-Rector, Mr. Dhiphar Kumar, outlining specific deadlines for PhD and faculty exchanges, as well as student internships. Details on figures and the roadmap will be covered in the next article.