The Ministry of Steel is responsible for Co-ordination and planning of the growth and development of Iron and Steel Industry in the country (including Re-rolling Mills, Alloy Steel and Ferro Alloy Industries, Refractories) both in the Public and Private Sectors; and also Development of input industries relating to iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore and Refractories etc. , required mainly by the steel industry.
Mandate: Development of the iron and steel industry in India, including policy formulation, coordination, and monitoring of production, pricing, distribution, and import/export of iron and steel.
Roles & Responsibilities
1. Ensuring Availability of Construction Steel
- Regulates and supports production of:
- Reinforcement bars (TMT rods)
- Structural steel (I-beams, channels, plates)
- Steel for bridges, buildings, roads, and railways
- Monitors supply and pricing of steel for:
- National highway projects (MoRTH)
- Metro rail and high-speed rail (MoHUA & Railways)
- Housing projects (PMAY)
- Smart cities and industrial corridors
2. Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in Steel-Based Construction
| PSU | Role in Construction |
|---|---|
| Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) | Supplies structural and reinforcement steel for bridges, roads, tunnels, and buildings |
| Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. (RINL – Vizag Steel) | Supplies steel for housing, irrigation, and power projects |
| NMDC Ltd. | Supplies iron ore, essential for steel-making |
| MECON Ltd. | Engineering consultancy for steel plant construction, design of industrial structures |
3. Steel Intensive Construction Promotion
The Ministry promotes the use of steel in construction through:
- Steel Usage Promotion Programs in collaboration with ministries like:
- Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
- Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)
- Ministry of Railways
- Development of pre-engineered steel structures for fast construction
- Encouraging use of steel bridges, modular steel buildings, and prefabricated steel components
4. Research, Standards & Innovation
- Supports R&D in green steel, corrosion-resistant steel, and weathering steel used in construction of coastal and industrial structures.
- Works with:
- BIS to improve standards for construction-grade steel
- NITI Aayog and CPWD for policy on steel structures
- Promotes use of steel slag in road construction (pilot projects in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh)
5. Skilling and Capacity Building
- Collaborates with:
- Construction Skill Development Council of India (CSDCI)
- National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST)
- Trains workers in steel fabrication, structural welding, and construction safety involving steel structures.
6. Support to National Infrastructure Projects
Steel from PSUs and private manufacturers under the Ministry is used in:
- Metro rail (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Nagpur, etc.)
- Highways & flyovers
- Railway bridges and tunnels
- Hydroelectric dams and thermal power plants
- Stadiums, airports, smart city buildings
List of PSUs/Agencies Under Ministry of Steel
- Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)