Steel Production

Why is in news? India becomes the world's second largest producer of steel

Union Ministry of Steel has said that India has made remarkable progress in the steel sector in the last 8 years.

The ministry said, the country which was earlier a net importer of the steel has now become a net exporter. The Ministry was addressing the Steel Conference of State governments in New Delhi.

The ministry informed thatIndia has also moved from 4th largest producer of steel to the second largest producer of steel at global scale.

As per World Steel Association data, India became the second largest steel producer of crude steel after China in 2018 and 2019, by replacing Japan.

Odisha is the largest producer of steel in India. It has a capacity of 18 million tonnes per year of steel production.

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is the largest steel-making company in India and one of the seven Maharatna's of the country's Central Public Sector Enterprises.

The real beginning of Iron and steel industry was in 1907 with setting up of TISCO plant at Jamshedpur. It was set up in the confluence of Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers in 1907. Since then, Indian iron and steel industry made a great stride to reach its present stage.

The Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO) were set up in 1919 at Burnpur followed by the setting up of Mysore Steel Works at Bhadravati (now Visveswaraya Iron and Steel Works) in 1923.

Iron and Steel industry uses a large quantity of heavy and weight losing raw material, so its location is primarily guided by the availability of raw material.

Most of the iron and steel plants of India such as Jamshedpur, Burnpur, Durgapur, Rourkela, Bhilai, and Bokaro are located in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. These states are very rich in coal and iron ore deposits and are important producers of these materials.

Visveswaraya Iron and Steel Works at Bhadravati is a major exception which is located far away from the main coal-producing areas of the country.

Government Initiatives for Steel Industry: National Steel Policy (NSP) 2017, Steel Scrap Recycling Policy, Adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), Steel Research and Technology Mission of India, etc.