JULY 20268TOP STORIESSteel MSMEs are raising fresh concerns after Chinese imports into India jumped 65 percent year-on-year in April 2026. Industry bodies representing more than 100 small and medium stainless steel manufacturers have urged the government to bring back the Quality Control Order (QCO), saying the surge in low-cost imports is hurting domestic businesses, putting jobs at risk, and creating an uneven market.Steel MSMEs say restoring quality checks is now critical to protect local manufacturing and ensure fair competition. The demand comes nearly two months after the Ministry of Steel suspended the Quality Control Order (QCO) on April 27, 2026. The move was aimed at reducing compliance requirements and making it easier for manufacturers, especially MSMEs, to source raw materials. India's imported solar components remain one of the biggest gaps in the country's clean energy journey. To reduce this dependence, the government is now shifting its focus from just making solar panels to manufacturing the critical parts that power the renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors.The move aims to strengthen domestic production, secure supply chains, and reduce the country's import bill. As India expands its renewable capacity, imported solar components have become a major area of concern, prompting the government to identify products that can be manufactured locally. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has identified several key products across the solar, green hydrogen, and wind energy sectors for domestic manufacturing. LPG users can breathe easier as the government has rolled back emergency restrictions imposed during the recent supply scare linked to tensions around the Hormuz Strait. The move signals that authorities are now more confident about the country's LPG supply position after the key shipping route reopened, reducing fears of disruptions.The decision is significant because India had tightened LPG restrictions on industrial and commercial consumers to protect domestic LPG availability when concerns grew over possible disruptions in the Middle East. With the situation easing and supplies improving, the government has started restoring allocations to non-household users, indicating that the immediate threat to LPG supply has reduced. For facilitating Rare Earth Permanent Magnet manufacturing in India, the Ministry of Heavy Industries initiated the global tender. Recently, the Ministry has announced in extending the global tender for REPM after multiple requests were received from manufacturers.As per current reports, the date has been shifted from June 29 to July 29 for the respective bid submissions. This global tender was initiated on March 20 by the Ministry, for the manufacturers to be selected as beneficiaries under the scheme of Rare Earth Permanent Magnet. Railways Attract More Freight as the Ministry of Railways gears up to introduce a revised wagon design policy within the next 15 days. The move is expected to give industries greater flexibility by allowing them to develop custom wagons based on their cargo needs.STEEL MSMES SOUND ALARM AS CHINESE IMPORTS SURGE 65%THE CLOCK RESETS ON INDIA'S RS 7,280 CRORE RARE EARTH MAGNET SCHEMERAILWAYS PREPARES NEW WAGON RULES TO ATTRACT MORE FREIGHTCAN INDIA END ITS RELIANCE ON IMPORTED SOLAR COMPONENTS?BIG RELIEF FOR LPG USERS AS GOVT ROLLS BACK EMERGENCY CURBSThe wagon design policy aims to improve freight movement, reduce logistics costs, and encourage more businesses to shift cargo from road to rail. The upcoming policy is part of Indian Railways' ongoing reforms to strengthen its freight business. Officials believe that giving industries the freedom to propose customized wagon designs will help improve efficiency across sectors that require specialized transportation solutions.
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