In a strategic move to fortify the domestic steel industry and counter unfair trade practices, the Government of India has unveiled the draft of the ‘National Steel Policy Vision 2047’. The cornerstone of this proposed policy is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics to detect abnormal import surges in real-time. This high-tech surveillance mechanism aims to phase out sub-standard steel imports and boost the long-term competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of the Indian steel manufacturing ecosystem.

Replacing the review-pending National Steel Policy of 2017, the Vision 2047 roadmap outlines a comprehensive plan to scale up India’s crude steel production capacity to an ambitious 60.4 crore tonnes (604 million tonnes) by 2047. The draft addresses pressing challenges such as circumvention of trade remedies, dumping of low-quality steel, and supply chain disruptions. Official trade data indicates that despite being a net exporter in FY 2025-26, India became a net importer of finished steel in the April-August period of the current fiscal year, importing 34.87 lakh tonnes—a 29.5 percent surge compared to the corresponding period last year.

The top five exporters driving this surge include China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Crucially, over 60 percent of India’s steel imports originate from nations with which India shares Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). To safeguard domestic manufacturers without starving downstream industries of specialized value-added steel, the policy outlines a targeted three-tier strategy. Working in tandem with the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the government will deploy AI-driven tracking alongside evidence-based anti-dumping and protective measures to ensure fair market competition and supply chain security.