At the XVII Session of the Indian National Congress held in December 1901, a resolution was passed emphasizing the need for a dedicated institution to train mining professionals in India. This was in response to the Indian Mines Act VII of 1901, which mandated expert supervision of mining operations. The Congress proposed the establishment of a Government College of Mining Engineering modeled after the Royal School of Mines in England and similar institutions in Japan and Europe. Following this, the Government of India appointed the McPherson Committee, which submitted its report in 1920 recommending the creation of an institution focused on Mining and Geology education. This recommendation laid the foundation for the establishment of the Indian School of Mines (ISM) in Dhanbad. The institute was formally inaugurated on 9th December 1926 by Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India, to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in mining and applied geology.
In 1967, ISM was granted the status of a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. Over the decades, the institution has significantly expanded its academic and research horizons. Today, as the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, it stands as a comprehensive technology education institute offering a wide range of programs in engineering, sciences, management, and humanities, while continuing its legacy in mining and earth sciences.
