DECEMBER, 20258TOP STORIESTOP STORIESABHYUDAY JINDAL CALLS FOR STANDALONE STAINLESS STEEL POLICYMARUTI SUZUKI FINALISES SMG MERGER WITH 15,000 CRORE CAPITAL PUSHAccording to Abhyuday Jindal, managing director of Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL), the government's National Steel Policy of 2017 should include a dedicated policy for the Indian stainless steel industry rather than just a chapter."Adding just one chapter diminishes the value and importance of this industry," Jindal said. In India, JSL makes up about half of all sales of stainless steel. It sold 2.37 million tonnes of stainless steel in FY25, with majority sales centered for the local market.The entire domestic usage of stainless steel was 4.8 million tonnes during the same time, according to industry group Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA). In order to address the long-standing concerns of the sector, the steel ministry plans to include the stainless steel section in the National Steel Policy."The present National Steel Policy does not have anything on stainless steel, but we are incorporating a chapter on stainless steel in the proposed new policy," a senior steel ministry official said. The official, who did not want to be identified, added the new provisions would factor in sectoral realities, including underutilised capacity, higher production costs and raw material constraints.The major part of the "dedicated policy" pitch by the 40,000-crore company revolves around raw material securitisation, especially for nickel and chrome. "Nickel is critical for us and we don't have nickel in India. Like rare earth materials, nickel securitisation should be encouraged," he said. effective today, December 2025, after the tribunal sanctions it. The merger was stipulated to come into force on April 2025. Suzuki motor gujarat is then completely merged with Maruti Suzuki India and all its production facilities are integrated under one roof and this allows the automaker to have direct control of capacities that were once handled in isolation.Merger is important to the auto industry. It removes the two-entity structure and offers Maruti Suzuki India a better control structure especially when the demand is changing towards hybrid and fuel efficient cars. Following the mother company acquisition of Suzuki Motor Gujarat, the Maruti Suzuki India will be able to better match its manufacturing activities to future products and technology improvements.The merger also enhances the long-term strategic operations planning where the company is getting ready to expand the portfolio and face more challenging competition. Through centralization and strengthening the capital base, Maruti Suzuki India is aiming at cleaner coordination, more stringent control of costs and cohesive expansion approach in the future.As the integration process has been finished, the automaker passes to the next stage that is characterized by a single manufacturing structure and has a better understanding of its developmental direction. Maruti Suzuki India has completed its merger with Suzuki Motor Gujarat which is an indication of a new direction in the manufacturing process of the company.The company has affirmed that the merger has taken effect today by submitting the certified order by the National Company Law Tribunal to the Registrar of Companies in Delhi.Due to the merger, the authorized share capital of Maruti Suzuki India is now increased by 15,000 crores. In its filing, the company added that the scheme becomes
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