Government Incorporates 151 Steel Standards into Quality Control Order to Ensure Quality

On Thursday, the Indian government announced the inclusion of 151 steel standards developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in the Quality Control Order(QCO). This has been initiated in its effort for a central harmonization of steel standards for all consumed in India to make sure that they meet one similar quality for all quality products in the country.

The initiative aims to ensure that respective standards for quality are maintained in steel production; it would also address both domestic and international demand. The Ministry of Steel suggests that steel imported into the country is also checked under the grand design so that inferior-quality products do not enter India. The inspection would ensure that only good-quality steel goes into the market.

It is a significant step towards establishing uniform specifications, testing methods, and manufacturing processes in steel manufacturing against which 151 standards would be included in the QCO. In this sense, it would help to standardize steel quality across different manufacturers so that consumers can have a reliable and consistent product. All steel production firms, whether Indian or international, require BIS licenses to produce steel according to the stated standards.

The government is furthering its efforts not only to ameliorate the quality of domestic steel but also to render the Indian steel industry competitive and sustainable on the global stage. To make this happen, a Working Group has been constituted to formulate a Steel Global Outlook Strategy. The strategy will focus on four key aspects: raw materials, investments, and promoting international collaboration. After consultation with stakeholders, a Strategy Paper will be developed outlining key action plans meant to enhance India’s position as a strong player in the global steel market.

This broad strategy reiterates the government’s resolve to bolster the steel industry and make sure that only good quality steel is used in infrastructure and manufacturing activities undertaken in the country.