New Delhi, December 24, 2025 - The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, in close collaboration with TEXMiN, the Technology Translation Research Park established by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, inaugurated the Centre of Research Excellence in Mining and Innovation for Critical Materials (CoRE-MiN), a recognised Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Critical Raw Materials under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
The Centre was inaugurated by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Honourable Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India, in the august presence of Shri B. Sairam, Chairman, Coal India Limited, and Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Chairman, Hub Governing Board, TEXMiN Foundation, at the IIT (ISM) Dhanbad campus.
The formal inauguration marks the operational launch of CoRE-MiN, building on TEXMiN, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s earlier recognition as one of the nine Centres of Excellence under NCMM. It represents a key milestone in advancing India’s scientific, technological, and industrial capabilities across the critical minerals value chain. CoRE-MiN, which is anchored at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad as the academic hub, is implemented in close collaboration with its Technology Translation Research Park, TEXMiN, serving as the translational and industry-interface backbone of the Centre.
The Centre is supported by a strong consortium of national and international partners, including leading global academic institutions such as IIT Gandhinagar, IIT BHU, Curtin University, the University of Cambridge, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, which contribute advanced research expertise across exploration, processing, and critical mineral systems. Industry collaboration is led by key Indian mining and mineral organisations, including Hindustan Copper Limited, MOIL Limited, Maheshwari Mining, Odisha Mining Corporation, Jindal Steel, Elitech Earth Science, CPI, Novasensa, CODELCO, enabling field validation, pilot-scale demonstrations, and technology deployment. This integrated partnership model ensures that CoRE-MiN delivers scientifically rigorous, industry-ready, and globally benchmarked solutions that are aligned with India’s National Critical Mineral Mission and its strategic objectives for self-reliance.
CoRE-MiN’s research agenda is closely aligned with the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission, focusing on AI/ML-enabled mineral exploration, digital rock-core characterisation, real-time traceability of critical raw materials, and advanced beneficiation and recycling solutions. These initiatives aim to strengthen secure and resilient supply chains for minerals essential to clean energy, e-mobility, electronics, defence, and strategic sectors.
Commenting on the inauguration, Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Chairman, Hub Governing Board, TEXMiN Foundation, said, “The inauguration of CoRE-MiN marks a defining moment for IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and TEXMiN. As a recognised Centre of Excellence under NCMM, CoRE-MiN will drive impactful research and technology translation through deep academic, industrial, and international collaboration, contributing meaningfully to India’s goal of self-reliance in critical minerals.”
Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, Project Director, TEXMiN, and HoC of the CoE, added, “TEXMiN is proud to serve as the translational backbone of CoRE-MiN. Our focus will be on converting high-quality research into deployable technologies across AI-driven exploration, core digitisation, traceability platforms, and pilot-scale beneficiation of critical minerals. This Centre will play a catalytic role in accelerating India’s mineral technology readiness and industry adoption.”
The inauguration of CoRE-MiN marks a significant national commitment to developing indigenous capabilities in critical mineral exploration, processing, recycling, and advanced technologies, while fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and global research institutions.
About TEXMiN IIT(ISM) Dhanbad: Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) is a Section 8 company with a status of Technology Translation Research Park (TTRP) set up by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India, at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad under the aegis of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). TEXMiN aims to develop commercially feasible mineral exploration and mining solutions using cyber-physical systems, including IoT, AI/ML, blockchain, drones, robotics, and satellite imagery. It aims to address the issues and challenges of the mining and exploration industry through the intervention of CPS-based technologies, achieving 3S Mining (Safe, Smart, and Sustainable Mining) and ultimately leading to Mining 4.0 through operation & process optimization across the mining value chain.
Bengaluru, December 23, 2025: Zoomcar Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: ZCAR), India’s largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace, today released its EV Experience Insight Report, arguing that India’s EV adoption challenge is less about intent—and more about first-hand experience.
While policy momentum is building, electric cars remain ~2% of new passenger vehicle sales in India. The report highlights three persistent adoption blockers: charging access friction, battery health concerns, and low real-world familiarity. Zoomcar believes that short, real-life EV trials—beyond showroom test drives—can meaningfully reduce hesitation as the ecosystem matures.
Pilot takeaways: Zoomcar’s EV pilots across select metros showed strong renter interest, with EVs performing best in urban mobility, airport runs, and short-distance trips. The pilots also surfaced recurring constraints, including charging anxiety on longer routes, uneven fast-charger availability across highways/tourist corridors, limited home-charging access for apartment-dwelling hosts, and higher downtime driven by charging cycles.
2026 outlook: With the next phase of EV policy support under discussion, continued expansion of charging infrastructure, and growing private network coverage, Zoomcar sees 2026 as a practical window to scale EV access through its marketplace. The company plans to work with OEMs, charging partners, and policy stakeholders to build a structured EV experience program—enabling more consumers to live with an EV before buying one.
Deepankar Tiwari, CEO - Zoomcar said “India doesn’t have a demand problem — it has an experience gap. Giving people access to EVs for just 2–3 days can accelerate adoption more effectively than any marketing campaign. As India scales toward its 2030 EV goals, experience-led mobility will be the foundation.”
About Zoomcar: Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Zoomcar is India’s largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace. Through its digital-first platform, Zoomcar connects individual vehicle owners (Hosts) with users (Guests), offering flexible access to vehicles for self-drive carsharing. The company’s mission is to promote smarter, shared mobility that is both economically empowering and environmentally sustainable.
Bengaluru, December 22, 2025: redBus, the world’s largest online bus ticketing platform, has launched its latest Christmas ad film, ‘Everyone’s Christmas’. The campaign continues to celebrate togetherness and highlights the message that differences should never divide people. The film reinforces the idea that acceptance and empathy help create truly inclusive journeys. The campaign message is that journeys should foster a welcoming and respectful environment for all communities, such as the transgender community, ensuring that every traveller feels comfortable. At its core, the film serves as a gentle call to action - urging people to change their mindsets, embrace inclusivity - during festive seasons like Christmas and in everyday moments of travel.
The film follows a simple yet emotional bus-journey moment: a passenger expresses discomfort when he realises his co-traveller is a transgender person. What begins as discomfort slowly unfolds into an eye-opening experience, as the people around him choose empathy over judgment. Subtle, everyday gestures—sharing space, exchanging seats, sharing a smile, acknowledging someone’s presence—shift the atmosphere from tension to warmth.
With the message to change regressive mindsets, the film drives home a clear thought: on the occasion of Christmas - and any joyous occasion - every traveller deserves dignity, comfort, and respect for who they are. By spotlighting the experiences of communities which may not be in the mainstream such as transgender individuals, redBus aims to spark conversations around acceptance in public spaces and drive home the message ‘Make this christmas, everyone's christmas'
About the Film
The film opens with Mihir, a 40-year-old traveller absorbed in his work and mobile game as he gets onto the bus. Inside, the festive mood is light and cheerful, but it shifts when he realises his co-passenger is a transgender woman, Kamla. Uncomfortable with the situation, he immediately asks for a seat change.
This moment creates a brief but palpable tension inside the bus. The bus operator politely asks if anyone is willing to switch seats, but the other passengers remain hesitant, highlighting societal stigmas.
Rahul, a young child, raises his hand, offering to exchange seats with Mihir. This simple, thoughtful gesture transforms the atmosphere of the bus, and all the other passengers also raise their hands - volunteering to sit next to Kamla. In a powerful moment, Mihir realises his error and sits back down next to Kamla.
The film’s underlying philosophy is clear: “Make this Christmas everyone’s Christmas.” It reinforces that the holiday spirit is not just about physical space or gifts—it’s about opening our hearts, embracing diversity, and fostering an inclusive environment where every traveller, including transgender passengers, feels respected and valued.
Through this narrative, redBus beautifully conveys that travel can be more than a journey from one city to another; it can be a space for empathy, acceptance, and meaningful human connection, especially during the season of celebration and togetherness.
Speaking about the campaign, Pallavi Chopra, CMO, redBus, said “Every Christmas, we try to capture the real human moments that unfold on India’s buses, because these stories reflect the world our customers travel in. Our film captures the real spirit of Christmas - goodwill, love, kindness, and selfless giving.
With Everyone’s Christmas, we wanted to show how a small shift in perspective can transform a shared journey through generosity. Today’s travellers increasingly seek experiences that feel warm, welcoming, and kind — and so much of that comes from how we relate to one another on the move. This film encourages people to pause, reconsider their first instinct, and bring a little more Christmas joy and cheer into shared spaces. If the story prompts viewers to reflect, even briefly, on how they engage with those around them, it will have served its purpose.”
Link to Ad: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSeNhm2CHLA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==