The ministry has announced that the enforcement of QCO on 42 Indian Standards under the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 has been suspended for three years, and enforcement of QCO on 13 Indian Standards, relating to specialty steel grades covered under PLI 1.2, has been suspended for one year.

Nov 21, 2025

The Ministry of Steel has issued the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2025. 

With this new amendment, the enforcement of QCO on 42 Indian Standards under the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 has been suspended for three years, and enforcement of QCO on 13 Indian Standards, relating to specialty steel grades covered under PLI 1.2, has been suspended for one year.

This step is in response to the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms (HLC-NFRR). The ministry examined the broader implications of enforcing the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 for the steel sector. It has taken into account potential downstream pricing impacts, the need to ensure adequate availability of steel for MSMEs and consumer industries, and the continued reliance on imports for certain specialised grades. 

At the same time, considerations relating to prevention of unfair trade practices, support for small steel producers, and the advancement of domestic self-reliance have also been assessed.

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The three-year suspension applies to 42 IS Standards listed in Schedule 1 of the QCO, covering steel grades widely used in the manufacture of engineered products, automotive components and durable goods. The one-year suspension applies to 13 IS Standards in the same schedule, covering speciality steel grades used in high-precision and niche applications requiring exceptional strength, hardness, dimensional accuracy and thermal stability.