India's Steel Ministry is exploring a plan to establish a dedicated mining division within Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), aiming to significantly raise SAIL's iron ore production, a crucial step towards its goal of reaching 35 million tons per year of steel capacity by 2030.

SAIL, already a major iron ore producer with 15 captive mines, produced 33.78 million tons of iron ore in 2024-25. The proposed separate vertical would focus on mining operations to support the company's expansion plans and secure a vital raw material for steel manufacturing.

Currently, discussions on the new unit's structure are ongoing between the Steel Ministry and SAIL.