NMDC Ltd is the largest iron ore producer by volume in India. The company is engaged in the exploration of a range of minerals including iron ore, copper, rock phosphate, lime stone, dolomite, gypsum, bentonite, magnesite, diamond, tin, tungsten, graphite, and beach sands. Their principal operations include its three iron ore mining complexes at Kirandul and Bacheli in the State of Chhattisgarh and Donimalai in the State of Karnataka, each of which consists of several iron ore mines. The company sells most of their high grade iron ore production to the Indian domestic steel market, primarily pursuant to long term sales contracts. They sell their core products, iron ore fines, lump and slimes, through the company's sales and marketing function.NMDC Ltd was incorporated on November 15, 1958, as a government company with the name National Mineral Development Corporation Pvt Ltd. During the year 1959-60, the name of the company was changed from National Mineral Development Corporation Pvt Ltd to National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. In the year 1966, the company acquired the Panna Diamond Project. In the year 1968, they commenced production of iron ore from Bailadila Deposit No.14. In the year 1977, they commenced production of iron ore from Bailadila Deposit No.5 and Donimalai Iron Ore Mine. Also, they commenced production of iron ore from Bailadila Deposit No.11C in the year 1987. In the year 1989, the company incorporated J & K Mineral Development Corporation Ltd as a joint venture with J & K Minerals Ltd, to explore and exploit the magnesite mine at Panthal and to produce dead burnt magnesite. In the year 1998, the company was conferred with the Mini Ratna status by Department of Public Enterprise, Government of India, which enabled Board of Directors to exercise certain capital expenditure powers without reference to Government of India. In the year 2002, the company commenced production of iron ore from Bailadila Deposit No.10/11A.In the year 2008, the company was accredited as the 'Centre of Excellence' in the field of mineral processing by the Expert Group of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). They entered into an MoU with Spice Metals and Minerals for the formation of a strategic partnership for planning, acquisition, development and management of metal and mineral projects outside India.During the year, the company was Conferred the Navratna status by Department of Public Enterprise, Government of India which enabled the Board of Directors of the company to exercise certain enhanced capital expenditure powers without reference to Government of India. They incorporated a joint venture 'NMDC-CMDC Limited' with Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation Limited to develop Bailadila iron ore Deposit No. 13. Also, they ventured into new area - Wind Energy and they commissioned seven unit wind electricity generators having the capacity of 1.5 MW.In the year 2009, the company entered into an MoU with Steel Authority of India Limited for the development of the Arki Limestone deposit for the supply of low silica high grade limestone primarily to the steel plants of the company and Steel Authority of India Limited. Also, they entered into an MoU with the Department of Mines & Geology, Government of Jharkhand for carrying out geological exploration in Jharkhand for various minerals like iron ore, lime stone, bauxite etc.During the year 2009-10, Government of India disinvested 8.38% of their holding in the company aggregating 332,243,200 equity shares of the face value of Re.1/- each through an Offer for Sale. In January 2010, the company entered into an MoU with Department of Mines & Geology (DMG), Govt. of Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC), Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for mineral exploration in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Sponge Iron India Ltd was amalgamated with the company with effect from July 01, 2010 as Sponge Iron Unit. During the year 2010-11, the company signed an MoU with OJSC Severstal, Russia, to jointly set up an Integrated steel plant with an initial capacity of 2 million TPA in Karnataka. The company incorporated a joint venture company, namely Kopano Ke Matla Investment Company (Pty) in the Republic of South Africa for exploring and exploiting the mineral resources in South Africa. In January 29, 2010, the company signed an MoU for joint exploration work for Iron ore in Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor and Karimnagar Districts and for Gold in Chittoor and Anantapur districts of A.P.In September 6, 2011, the company signed the contract for Coke oven Package for the upcoming 3 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant at Nagarnar, with the Consortium lead by Bhilai Engineering Corporation (BEC). The total cost of the package is Rs 1978.00 crore. The Coke Oven Plant will be executed within the overall time frame of 33 months.In October 20, 2011, the company signed the share subscription agreement with Legacy Iron Ore Ltd, Australia for holding 50% of the total shares in the capital of Legacy Iron Ore Ltd, Australia, at a price aggregating to AUD 18.89 million. In December 12, 2011, the company incorporated a special purpose vehicle (SPV) company by the name of NMDC Power Ltd for the purpose of setting up a power plant for captive power supply to the 3 MTPA integrated steel plant being constructed at Nagarnar.On 23 May 2012, NMDC signed the contract for Steel Making Shop (SMS) Package for the upcoming 3 MTPA integrated steel plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh with the consortium led by M/s Siemens VAI MT GmbH & Co. (SVAI), Austria. The Board of Directors of NMDC at its meeting held on 8 October 2012 decided to fix iron ore prices for domestic customers on monthly basis from the month of October 2012. On 7 June 2013, NMDC signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MOSI OA TUNYA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY of Zimbabwe for mineral projects in Zimbabwe. NMDC plans to develop mineral assets overseas to secure raw materials for the steel industry. The designated organization of the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Government of Zimbabwe has invited NMDC as a strategic partner to invest in the exploration and development of the iron ore, coal, Gold and chrome tenements. This MoU will provide exclusivity to NMDC for participation in mineral projects at Zimbabwe.On 21 August 2013, NMDC announced that its wholly owned subsidiary NMDC Power Ltd. (NPL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IL&FS Energy Development Company Ltd (IEDCL), a subsidiary of IL&FS Ltd. to set up a 500 megawatt (2x250 MW) thermal power plant under joint venture at Gonda in Uttar Pradesh.On 23 January 2015, NMDC signed contract agreements with Larsen & Toubro Ltd on water packages for NMDC's upcoming 3 MTPA integrated steel plant steel plant at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh. NMDC started the trial production of its new Project Bailadila Iron Ore Deposit 11B located in Bailadila Region in Dantewada in the State of Chhattisgarh on 29 March 2015. NMDC said at that time that it has completed this project having iron ore production capacity of 7 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) with an investment decision of over Rs 600 crore. On 29 June 2015, NMDC signed a tripartite MoU with the Union Steel Ministry and the State Government of Jharkhand for setting up of a steel plant at Jharkhand.On 3 November 2015, NMDC unveiled Vision 2025 plan that seeks to reorient its business model and strategize effectively to retain its market leadership in the domestic market and also make a mark on the global mining scene to ensure raw material security for Indian industry. A key point of NMDC's Vision 2025 is the ambitious expansion plan to increase iron ore mining capacity to 75 MTPA by 2018-19 and 100 MTPA by 2021-22.On 24 October 2016, NMDC and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) signed a MoU for Tungsten Mining & Development of Processing Technology. NMDC being a strong mining company with experience in acquisition of mineral assets abroad and MIDHANI having expertise in metals and alloys providing technical support and coordination for Ammonium Para Tungstate (APT) can combine their complementary strengths to pursue a win-win venture in developing the identified tungsten mineral assets in India and abroad. This alliance would strengthen both NMDC and MIDHANI to explore jointly the Tungsten assets in India and abroad for investment and development of technologies for converting Tungsten ore to APT and Tungsten powder.On 7 April 2017, NMDC announced that it registered highest ever annual iron ore production of 34.03 million tonnes and highest ever annual iron ore sales of 35.62 million tonnes in 2016-17.NMDC and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) signed MOU on 18 April 2017 for preparation of a Detailed Project Report for assessment of potential tungsten reserves within the country and explore opportunities for acquisition/sourcing tungsten minerals elsewhere abroad through appointment of reputed consultants. Tungsten (W) metal is of strategic importance to India because of its essential requirement in the manufacture of Tungsten based heavy alloy ammunition systems for the country's armed forces. Availability of tungsten in India is very limited and not being mined as it is economically not viable. Presently, India's requirement of this strategic mineral is being met through imports.At the time of announcement of its Q2 September 2017 results, NMDC on 13 November 2017 said that the company achieved record iron ore production of 7.18 MT in Q2 September 2017, registering an increase of 14% over the corresponding period last year.On 1 March 2018, NMDC announced that its upcoming steel plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh took the first decisive step towards commissioning by starting the 220KV GIS (Gas Insulated Switch) Main Receiving Sub-station. The GSI System is designed to receive power from Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Corporation Limited's (CSPTCL) sub-station at Parchanpal, Bastar and distribute it to different units of steel plant by Plant Power Distribution System (PPDS) through overhead cable gallery system. The PPDS is also expected to be in place within a fortnight.NMDC and Indian Rare Earths Limited signed a MoU on 2 April 2018 to explore opportunities in rare earths in India and abroad and also in setting up downstream value chain for RE compounds.