The ministry aims to temporarily lift quality control obligations for 55 BIS-certified steel types as part of a plan prepared in line with the recommendations of a high-level committee that reviewed concerns over supply issues raised by major manufacturing sectors.
42 Standards to Be Suspended for Three Years, 13 Standards for One Year
According to reports in the Indian press, 42 of the standards included in the suspension measure will be withdrawn for three years, while the remaining 13 will be suspended for one year. The ministry states that an official announcement will be made shortly and that the suspension decision will be reviewed annually.
With this temporary relaxation, sectors will be allowed to import certain steel grades from unlicensed suppliers, and materials without BIS certification may be used in areas where domestic production is insufficient. These steel grades are widely used by automotive and electrical equipment manufacturers and often require specialized inputs.
Additional Reviews Underway: 15 More Standards Being Assessed
It was also reported that an inter-ministerial group is evaluating whether 15 additional standards should be suspended. However, quality control orders related to critical areas such as defense and atomic energy are expected to remain in force.
In recent years, India has implemented more than 151 quality control orders to limit the entry of non-compliant steel products into the country. New restrictions announced in June also drew attention in this context.
Industry Representatives: “Domestic Capacity Does Not Meet Demand”
During a recent meeting held by NITI Aayog with industry representatives, it was emphasized that temporary flexibility is needed in cases where certain specialized steel grades are not produced domestically or where existing capacity cannot meet demand. The temporary suspension is expected to ease supply chain pressures particularly for steel types used in high-precision manufacturing processes.
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