The Ministry of Steel has released the draft National Steel Policy Vision 2047 for public comments. The draft is on the ministry's website, steel.gov.in, and suggestions can be submitted till 30 October 2026. News On AIR, the public broadcaster's news service, reported the main targets on 13 October 2026.
The draft is a long-term plan for the steel sector up to 2047. Once final, it would take the place of the National Steel Policy of 2017.
The targets for 2047
| Indicator | Now | Target for 2047 |
|---|---|---|
| Crude steel capacity | - | 604 million tonnes |
| Finished steel demand | - | 505 million tonnes |
| Steel use per person | 116 kg | 302 kg |
| Steel exports | - | 45 million tonnes |
| Emissions per tonne of crude steel | 2.54 tonnes of CO2 | 1.54 tonnes of CO2 |
News On AIR describes the capacity target as a nearly threefold expansion. For comparison, the country produced about 170 million tonnes of crude steel in 2025-26, up from about 89 million tonnes in 2014-15.
The 2017 policy had aimed for 300 million tonnes of capacity and 160 kg of steel use per person by 2030, Deccan Chronicle reported.
Where the extra steel would be used
The draft expects more steel to go into infrastructure, housing, transport, renewable energy and newer areas of manufacturing. It also gives weight to value-added products such as stainless and speciality steel.
Raw materials - the coking coal problem
According to Deccan Chronicle's report on the draft:
- raw materials make up roughly 65-70% of the cost of making steel;
- the country is largely self-sufficient in iron ore;
- nearly 92% of the coking coal it needs is imported.
To reduce this dependence, the draft lists more domestic mining, more coal washeries, buying mining assets, long-term supply arrangements and wider use of steel scrap. Manganese and limestone are also named as priorities.
Cleaner steel
The steel sector produces about 10-12% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, the report says. The average emission intensity is 2.54 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of crude steel, against a global average of 1.92.
The draft aims to bring this down to 1.54 tonnes by 2047 and to reach net zero in phases by 2070. The routes named are better energy efficiency, renewable electricity, more scrap and hydrogen-based steelmaking.
Smaller producers, quality and imports
The secondary steel sector has about 2,550 units and nearly 47% of crude steel capacity. The draft proposes help for these units with raw materials, technology, skills and safety.
It also proposes revised Indian Standards for steel quality, digital systems across plants, and closer monitoring of low-quality imports along with trade remedies.
Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik said the 2017 policy "needed a relook" in view of present challenges, Deccan Chronicle reported.
How to send suggestions
- Open the "Draft National Steel Policy Vision 2047" page on steel.gov.in and download the draft (a PDF of about 1.6 MB).
- Submit your suggestions through the ministry's online feedback form at steel.gov.in/feedback.
- The last date given on the ministry's page is 30 October 2026.
Anyone can respond, including steel companies, small producers, user industries, researchers and members of the public.
What it means
- This is a draft, not a final policy. The targets can change after the consultation.
- The policy sets direction. It does not by itself change steel prices, duties or taxes.
- Demand for steel is closely tied to factory and construction activity. For recent numbers, see our report on industrial output growth in August 2026.
What happens next
After 30 October the ministry will go through the suggestions it receives. The final policy would then need the government's approval. No date has been announced for that.
