📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / UNDP
Education
Mining firms ready to sponsor, but student interest in mining engineering remains low, says DMF
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 19 Oct 2026, 07:36 AM
👁 13
The DMF says industry players are prepared to fund scholarships and internships, yet enrollment in mining engineering courses has not picked up.
The Department of Mining and Fuels (DMF) reported that several mining companies have signaled their willingness to sponsor scholarships, provide internships and support infrastructure for aspiring engineers. These firms are keen to collaborate with academic institutions to bridge the skill gap in the sector.
Despite the readiness of industry to back students financially, the DMF noted that enrollment figures in mining engineering programmes across Indian colleges have not shown any significant rise. Prospective students continue to prefer other engineering streams, leaving mining courses under‑filled.
The stagnation in student interest poses a challenge for the mining industry, which relies on a steady pipeline of qualified engineers for future projects. The DMF urged educational institutions and policymakers to promote the career prospects in mining and to create more awareness about the sector's growth potential.
If the current trend persists, companies may need to rethink their sponsorship strategies and explore alternative avenues such as joint research projects or vocational training to attract talent.
Despite the readiness of industry to back students financially, the DMF noted that enrollment figures in mining engineering programmes across Indian colleges have not shown any significant rise. Prospective students continue to prefer other engineering streams, leaving mining courses under‑filled.
The stagnation in student interest poses a challenge for the mining industry, which relies on a steady pipeline of qualified engineers for future projects. The DMF urged educational institutions and policymakers to promote the career prospects in mining and to create more awareness about the sector's growth potential.
If the current trend persists, companies may need to rethink their sponsorship strategies and explore alternative avenues such as joint research projects or vocational training to attract talent.