The TEXMiN–MaxelS Center of Excellence for Critical Minerals & Digital Mineralogy, inaugurated in Nagpur, aims to bring exploration, digital mineralogy and technology development under a single roof to strengthen critical mineral supply chains in Maharashtra, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The state holds roughly 41 per cent of India's rare earth element (REE) resources, with Nagpur at the heart of the Vidarbha mining and coal belt, the report said.
Institutional Backbone of Nagpur
Nagpur's existing mining and mineral ecosystem underpins the centre's location, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The city is home to Western Coalfields (WCL), Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) , Manganese Ore (India) , Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, Directorate General of Mines Safety, and Maharashtra's Directorate of Geology & Mining. The concentration of these institutions, along with the state's mineral wealth, made Nagpur a natural base for work in critical minerals, rare earth elements, and digital mineralogy, TEXMiN Foundation said.
This concentration of institutional and mineral strength makes the city a natural base for work in critical minerals, rare earth elements, and digital mineralogy, and that presence was formalised with the inauguration of the TEXMiN–MaxelS Center of Excellence for Critical Minerals & Digital Mineralogy in Nagpur. — TEXMiN Foundation
Capability Areas
The centre combines capabilities across the critical mineral value chain, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The following focus areas were outlined:
| Capability Area | Function |
|---|---|
| Exploration & mapping | Identifying and characterising critical mineral resources |
| Extraction digital mineralogy & AI-based analytics | Applying AI to mineral extraction and analysis |
| Advanced testing & analytical facilities | Material testing and quality assurance |
| Training & capacity building | Developing skilled talent for the mineral sector |
The centre is designed to strengthen TEXMiN's ongoing work in critical minerals, REEs and digital mineralogy, and deepen engagement with partners across the region, the report said.
Organisations Behind the Centre
TEXMiN, formally the Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation, is a section-8 company created under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) programme by the Department of Science and Technology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. MaxelS Tekventures, the partner in the initiative, is a Nagpur-based start-up incubated under TEXMiN. The new centre was formalised with its inauguration, bringing these capabilities together in Maharashtra.
Leadership Perspective
Sukumar Mishra, Chairman of the Hub Governing Board at TEXMiN and Director of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, said the inauguration "marks an important milestone in extending our institutional strength into Maharashtra, a state with deep-rooted mining expertise and a significant share of India's rare earth resources." Dheeraj Kumar, Director of TEXMiN, said that through the partnership with MaxelS, the group aims to bring exploration, digital mineralogy and technology development under one roof, "translating research into real capability on the ground." Madhu Nair, CEO of MaxelS Tekventures, said Nagpur provides access to a strong mining and mineral ecosystem, and the collaboration lets the companies bring exploration, digital mineralogy and automation capabilities together under one platform.
Commodity Market Relevance
For commodity traders and procurement teams tracking critical minerals, the centre entrenches an institutional focus in a state holding 41 per cent of India's REE resources, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The presence of Western Coalfields, Manganese Ore (India) and the aluminium research centre ties the initiative directly to coal, manganese and aluminium value chains. The centre's training and capacity-building mission is aimed at creating a skilled workforce for the critical mineral sector in Maharashtra, the report noted.
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