Indian Steel Industry Shows Strong Growth Amid Emerging Challenges in 2025-26

• India is the world's second-largest crude steel producer, with FY 2025-26 output of ~168.4 MT, growing 10.7% YoY.
• Sector is anchored by the Ministry of Steel, the National Steel Policy (NSP) 2017 and the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel.
• Steel is a core sector (8 core industries) and a strategic input for infrastructure, defence, auto and railways — central to UPSC GS-III (industry, infrastructure, manufacturing).