Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, is a Central Government Autonomous Body under Ministry of Mines. This “Centre of Excellence” was set up in 1989 with a view to provide major R&D support system for the emerging modern aluminium industry in India.
JNARDDC is an ISO/IEC-17025:2017 & ISO-17034:2016 NABL accredited lab and is also recognized as a scientific & industrial research organization by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. It is the only institute of its kind in India pursuing the cause of R&D from bauxite to finished product under one roof.
The objective of the Centre is to assimilate the technology available in the country and abroad for the production of alumina, aluminium, aluminium alloys as well as to develop technical know-how for the basic engineering process and downstream areas. Centre provides training to the personnel employed in the Indian aluminium industries. The new objective to promote and develop recycling industry and transition to a circular economy in Non-Ferrous Metal Sector has been added.
JNARDDC has made key contributions in the areas of beneficiation, characterization, technological evaluation, upgradation of bauxites, Bayer process modeling, reduction of energy consumption and environmental pollution in smelter, development of alloys, product development, effective utilization of aluminium industry residue such as red mud, dross, spent pot lining and scrap for both primary and secondary industry. The annual reports are available at Annual Reports
Our Mission & Vision
Provide modern technological inputs to aluminium industries and other sectors for value addition, reduction in energy/material consumption and environmental pollution based on optimum utilisation of existing facilities and further development of technical capabilities.
Develop indigenous technologies and provide value addition services to both primary and secondary aluminium industries with a special emphasis on energy reduction and environmental sustenance through scientific research.
JNARDDC at a Glance
- Set up in 1989 by the Ministry of Mines with UNDP support; fully functional since 1996.
- Autonomous body under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, located at Wadi, Nagpur.
- Only institute in India doing aluminium research from bauxite to finished product under one roof.
- NABL accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 17034:2016) and recognised by DSIR as a scientific and industrial research organisation.
- Services: research projects, testing and analysis, certified reference materials, consultancy and training for industry.
Our Core Values
Scientific Excellence
Research that is accurate, tested and based on evidence.
Service to Industry
Practical solutions, testing and training for aluminium and non-ferrous metal industries.
Sustainability
Lower energy use, less pollution, and recycling of industrial waste such as red mud and dross.
Self-Reliance
Developing indigenous technology for India's mineral and metal sector.
Quality
Accredited laboratories and reliable, traceable results.
Collaboration
Working with ministries, industry and international partners.
Leadership
Dr. Rohit Kumar Gupta, Director, JNARDDC
The Director leads the Centre's research divisions, testing services and administration.
Director's Profile
Our Team
Key Achievements
- Awarded "Top-5 Innovative Research Institution" under the Industrial Innovation Awards 2025 by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
- Designated sector expert for NITI Aayog, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Bureau of Indian Standards and the Ministry of Mines.
- Referee laboratory for coal since 2021.
- Produces aluminium certified reference materials (Al-CRM) since 2022.
- Implementing institute for the Ministry of Mines S&T PRISM programme since 2024.
View All Awards & Achievements
Our History and Milestones
- 1989 Established by the Ministry of Mines and UNDP.
- 1996 Centre fully functional.
- 2020 Extrusion press set up; National Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework 2020.
- 2021 Recognised as referee laboratory for coal.
- 2022 Production of aluminium certified reference materials (Al-CRM); circular economy action plan work with NITI Aayog.
- 2023 AKAM campaign - 75 waste utilisation and scrap recycling drives.
- 2024 Recycling Promotion Division for aluminium, copper, zinc and lead; implementing institute for S&T PRISM.
- 2025 Work on critical minerals; international collaborations with Japan, Russia, Ukraine and Poland.
Designated Sector Expert
NITI Aayog
REE (Rare earth element) from red mud and coal fly ash
Strategy paper on Resource efficiency in the aluminium sector
Bureau of Energy Efficiency
(BEE), Ministry of Power
Sector expert for “National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency”-PAT 2/3/4 cycle
BIS, Bureau of Indian
Standards for standards
Guidelines for Al-scrap
The standard for aluminium alloys
MoM (Ministry of Mines)
Metal Recycling Authority (MRA) - to carry out the functions earmarked for MRA as stipulated in the “National Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework 2020” for which a dedicated Recycling Promotion Division has been set up in JNARDDC.
Implementing Agency of the S&T (Mines) – PRISM program to promote start-ups and MSMEs.
Referee Lab for Coal
JNARDDC is nominated referee lab for coal sample analysis of third party sampling of coal by Ministry of Coal & Power.
MoM (Ministry of Mines)
Project Management Agency (PMA) for the implementation of ₹1500 crores Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling
Project Management Agency (PMA) for Ministry of Mines Scheme titled “Pilot Projects for Recovery of Critical Minerals from Overburdens / tailings/ fly ash / red mud etc.”
International Collaboration
- Blacksmith Institute dba Pure Earth Lab, New York, USA: Project for lead contamination in recycled aluminium cookware-Identifying sources and developing strategies for lead removal.
- Ma’aden Bauxite and Alumina Company, Saudi Arabia: Project commenced on study on effect of addition of dust suppression chemicals in bauxite processing.
- JSC Titanium Institute, Ukraine – Collaboration for indigenization and pilot-scale demonstration plant for gallium extraction (1000 litre capacity) from Bayer liquor, including technology transfer and pilot plant engineering.
- Daiki Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd., Japan – Technical cooperation on aluminium recycling, alloy development (ADC12/LM24) and best practices in circularity, for setting up of Centre of Excellence for Non-Ferrous Recycling in JNARDDC. Collaborative project for utilization of aluminium dross in synthetic slag preparation for secondary steel making
- RUSAL & Russian institutes (MiSIS) – Knowledge exchange on red mud processing, iron recovery, alumina refining improvements, and sustainable metallurgical technologies.
- Characterization, Testing & Consultancy for International Clients; In addition to collaborative R&D, JNARDDC has undertaken specialized testing, characterization and consultancy projects for:
- BHP Billiton, Australia
- Asia Pacific Aluminium Holdings Limited, Hong Kong
- SAGT Port, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Aquaba Container Terminal, Jordan
- ANARK Aluminium Ltd., Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
- MSIS, Russia
- Petroleum Coke Industries Co., Kuwait
JNARDDC - Journey of Transformation
×
![JNARDDC model close]()
Need help or information?
