India is the 2nd largest steel producer in the world and also approaching towards a full quality regime. To achieve the objective of full quality regime, it is necessary to bring all the relevant Indian steel standards under the ambit of the steel quality control order. In India, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the National Standards Body, who are engaged in formulation and implementation of National Standards knows as Indian Standards. Adoption of Indian Standards or marking products to bear ISI Mark by its very nature is optional unless it is made mandatory under specific Law, Rules & Regulations. Section 16 of BIS Act, 2016 authorizes Union Government to make the use of ISI marks mandatory in the public interest.
Government has been pursuing imposition of steel quality control order for ensuring the availability of quality steel to the industry, users and public at large. During 2012-2024 (till date), Government notified 145 carbon steel, alloy steel and stainless steel products to make available quality steel for the sectors mainly in construction, infrastructure, automobile and engineering applications.Details of date of notification of number of standards in the QCO is as below:
S. No | Date of Notification | No. of Standards covered | Total Cumulative |
1. | 12.03.2012 | 7 | 7 |
2. | 12.03.2012 | 8 | 15 |
3. | 18.12.2015 | 15 | 30 |
4. | 10.06.2016 | 3 | 33 |
5. | 13.10.2017 | 4 | 37 |
6 | 20.06.2018 | 16 | 53 |
7. | 22.07.2019 | 13 | 66 |
8. | 14.02.2020 | 25 | 91 |
9. | 27.05.2020 | 20 | 111 |
10 | 17.07.2020 | 2 | 113 |
11. | 13.11.2020 | 31` | 144 |
12. | 22.12.2020 | 01 | 145 |