The steel supplied by SAIL includes special quality DMR 249A grade hot-rolled sheets and plates. This specialized, defense-grade steel was meticulously manufactured and supplied from SAIL’s flagship facilities at Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela Steel Plants, underscoring the Maharatna’s robust technological capability in supporting India’s maritime defense infrastructure.

SAIL continues to propel the nation’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. By producing specialized steel for critical naval platforms, SAIL has become integral part to India’s defense indigenisation. To meet the emerging requirements of the defense sector, SAIL has taken extra measures well in advance to enhance the production of DMR Grade plates for defense requirements at its Plate-production facilities, specifically at the Special Plate Plant in the Rourkela Steel Plant. This strategic move is clearly reflected in India’s growing import substitution in the field of defense-grade steel. Its stellar track record includes provisioning the landmark indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, alongside the elite Project 17A stealth frigates-INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, and INS Udaygiri. Furthermore, SAIL’s specialized steel forms the backbone of formidable vessels like INS Ajay, INS Nistar, and INS Anjadeep among others. The successful induction of these advanced warships marks a defining milestone in India’s maritime capabilities and sovereignty.

SAIL CMD Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda said, “As a key partner in India’s defense sector, SAIL remains deeply committed to national self-reliance. To stay ahead in the defense sector’s growing needs, the company boosted its manufacturing capacity for DMR Grade plates -focusing heavily on the Special Plate Plant at the Rourkela Steel Plant. Delivering these high-strength DMR 249A steel plates protects India’s strategic independence while highlighting SAIL’s cutting-edge technical expertise.”

The MoU was signed by Mr. Satyendra Rai, Executive Director (Digital Transformation), NMDC Limited, and Dean of Research & Development, IIT Kanpur, in the presence of Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, Project Director, Project Leads, and Officials from NMDC and I-Hub NTIHAC Foundation (C3iHub).

Under the MoU, IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub will support NMDC in cyber risk assessments, vulnerability analysis, security governance, incident response planning, and benchmarking of Security Operations Centre (SOC) models. The partnership will also explore AI/ML-driven solutions, digital twins, predictive maintenance frameworks, and advanced data analytics to enhance operational efficiency across NMDC’s mining ecosystem.

During the MoU signing ceremony, Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, said, “At IIT Kanpur, we have a strong research expertise in the domains of cybersecurity and AI, addressing challenges of national interest. I am confident that this collaboration will not only strengthen cyber resilience across NMDC’s operations but also foster the development of transformative technologies in AI, machine learning, and smart industrial systems in mining applications.”

Both institutions will jointly undertake research, capacity-building programs, and technology pilots, with successful proofs-of-concept evaluated for scalable deployment. The collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening cyber resilience and accelerating digital transformation in India’s mining sector.

Shri Vishwanath Suresh is presently serving as Director (Commercial) at NMDC Limited. An alumnus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, he is a Metallurgical Engineer and also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (Marketing) along with a certificate in Advanced Strategic Management from IIM Kozhikode.

Before joining NMDC, Shri Suresh held key leadership roles at SAIL, including Executive Director (Coal Import) and additional charge of Executive Director (Corporate Materials Management). With over three decades of experience in the mining and manufacturing sectors, he has developed expertise in sales and marketing of steel in both domestic and international markets, procurement, strategic management, and policy formulation.

Known for his visionary commercial acumen, Shri Suresh has spearheaded multiple initiatives to enhance systems efficiency, drive sales growth, and strengthen revenue performance across organizations he has served.

The event also saw the launch of MOIL Bharti magazine, felicitation of the Best PR Worker, and award distribution to meritorious students from IIT(ISM), Dhanbad and VNIT, Nagpur under the MOIL Puraskar scheme. A cultural program featuring performances from across MOIL mines and renowned artists added to the vibrant celebrations. Over 1500 employees and their families participated in the event.

Shri Poundrik was holding the charge of Additional Chief Secretary in the Industries Department and also held additional charges of several other positions in the Government of Bihar.  He had previously served as Advisor in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs and as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Shri Poundrik was holding the charge of Additional Chief Secretary in the Industries Department and also held additional charges of several other positions in the Government of Bihar.  He had previously served as an Advisor in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs and as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.