India advances steel capacity targets and industrial infrastructure

India is advancing several strategic industrial and administrative initiatives. The Ministry of Steel has announced a new policy aiming to increase the nation's steelmaking capacity to 600 million metric tons by 2047. This roadmap includes plans to reduce carbon emission intensity and secure raw materials like iron ore and coking coal through global outreach and joint ventures. Additionally, the Ministry is establishing the Steel Industry Safety Council (SISC) to enhance safety standards and accident prevention across the sector.

In the mining sector, NMDC Ltd has commissioned a Rs 5,427-crore integrated iron ore project in Chhattisgarh. The project features a 2 million tonne per annum pellet plant at Nagarnar, an iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, and a 135 km slurry pipeline. This infrastructure is designed to streamline the transport of iron ore concentrate and increase long-term production capacity.

On the administrative front, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement facilitates data sharing via APIs to strengthen the Statistical Business Register (SBR) and the National Statistical Business Register (NSBR), improving the reliability of economic business statistics.