India’s Ministry of Steel has unveiled an ambitious long-term blueprint for the country’s steel industry, emphasizing green transformation and global competitiveness. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Steel Summit 2025, Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik said the sector remains a key pillar of India’s economic vision under “Viksit Bharat.” 

Over the past decade, India’s steel capacity has nearly doubled from around 100 million tons to 200 million tons. Poundrik noted that the industry grew 8.5% in fiscal 2024-25, with domestic demand reaching 152 million tons. The government aims to lift capacity to 300 million tons by 2030-31 and 500 million tons by 2047, positioning India as a global steel powerhouse.

A central focus of the plan is developing low-carbon steel through a “DRI + hydrogen” technology route. Hydrogen is expected to replace natural gas as a reducing agent within a decade, sharply cutting emissions.

The ministry also outlined measures to boost the proportion of domestically produced coking coal used, curb imports of substandard steel through the Quality Control Order (QCO), and strengthen small and medium-sized producers, who contribute nearly half of national output.

Poundrik said India’s steel industry will advance on three pillars: strategic investment, self-reliance, and sustainability, driving growth, jobs, and infrastructure development nationwide.