Anupam Mittal, Principal Architect, ARINEM Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd.
As an architect for thirty years, I have personally seen how India’s construction industry has changed. One fact has remained consistent whether planning cutting-edge multi-dimensional facilities or creating affordable housing for urban communities: the integrity of our built environment is determined by the quality of steel. Despite causing a great deal of controversy, the new steel Quality Control Order framework marks a turning point for India’s infrastructure goals. I can categorically say that standardized steel quality is a national imperative that is crucial to our infrastructure goals because I have managed a variety of projects in 15 states, including educational campuses, train stations, expressway infrastructure, and important government facilities.
I had a terrifying reminder early in my career of why quality cannot be compromised. We found that inferior reinforcement bars had prematurely corroded during a structural evaluation of an older building, jeopardizing the integrity of the entire structure. Families lived in the building; they were actual people whose lives literally depended on steel that they would never see. A basic truth was brought home by this experience: human safety is compromised when steel quality is compromised. According to government data, substandard steel worth ₹4,200 crore was imported into India each year prior to stricter QCO enforcement. This resulted in compromised structures all over the nation, where safety was sacrificed for slight cost savings.
Material consistency is the first step toward structural integrity in areas that are prone to earthquakes and coastlines that are vulnerable to cyclones. Engineers use precise calculations based on assumed steel properties when designing for extreme conditions. The hazardous variability that has afflicted our construction industry is eliminated by the QCO framework’s requirement that all steel, whether imported or domestic, meet the same BIS standards.
Think about any significant renovation projects for railway stations, where enormous roof spans must sustain heavy loads while serving thousands of passengers every day. From the largest beam to the smallest fastener, every structural component must function precisely as intended. The entire engineering calculation becomes unreliable when steel properties fluctuate randomly, as occurs with uncertified imports. We cannot construct top-notch infrastructure on shaky foundations. This predictability is provided by the 151 Indian Standards that are currently required under the QCO framework. Architects and engineers can design with confidence knowing that materials will perform precisely as specified thanks to standards like IS 2062 for structural steel and IS 1786 for TMT bars.
Critics claim that QCOs raise expenses and burden MSMEs. We must distinguish between short-term adjustment costs and long-term strategic benefits, even though implementation challenges are genuine and deserving of sympathetic consideration. In an effort to show industry solidarity during this transition, major Indian steel producers have already committed to providing MSMEs with their products at export parity prices. More significantly, QCOs level the playing field so that market success is determined by quality rather than just price.
In the end, delays, failures, and repairs cost more when the lowest bidder uses inferior materials. National security is infrastructure. Every hospital that saves lives, every school that educates our children, and every bridge that spans distant communities depends on steel that satisfies its design requirements. Regardless of the source of the steel, the QCO framework guarantees that vital infrastructure, such as defence installations or Jal Jeevan Mission water systems, maintains constant quality standards.
Resilient infrastructure is necessary for sensitive government installations; it cannot rely on the luck of imported materials meeting requirements. Critical national infrastructure deserves the assurance that comes from methodical verification through BIS certification.
Yes, there were difficulties with implementation after the June 2025 clarification expanded the requirements to include input materials. For intricate supply chains that needed months of certification, the three-day notice period was in fact insufficient. However, by extending deadlines and granting grace periods, the government has shown that it is responsive and committed to implementing policies in a balanced manner.
The long-term improvement is more important than the short-term disruption. India wants to lead the world in infrastructure, from industrial corridors to smart cities. This goal requires us to demand excellence instead of “good enough.” I see the QCO framework as crucial scaffolding for India’s development goals because I have helped provide affordable housing for 25 million families and infrastructure that serves millions more. We cannot build a modern economy on inferior materials, just as we wouldn’t build a building without adequate foundations.
The decision is straightforward: either we accept short-term adjustment costs in order to ensure long-term quality, safety, or competitiveness, or we carry on as usual and watch as our infrastructure goals fall apart due to subpar quality. India deserves steel that is as strong as our determination as a nation. That is precisely what the QCO framework provides, and its success will determine our future.