Dependence on imports in the steel sector is worrisome: R C P Singh

Newly appointed Steel Minister says the announcement of the Rs 6,322-cr PLI scheme for specialty steel is another step towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'

Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, a former Indian Administrative Service officer of 1984 batch, is the face of Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) in the Narendra Modi government. He has taken charge of the Union Ministry of Steel at a time when the sector is on an upcycle. In an interview with Jyoti Mukul, Singh talks about two recent government decisions on production linked incentive (PLI) and coking coal imports from Russia, and the tightrope walk between free pricing and high cost of steel. Edited excerpts:

What are the key challenges that you intend to focus on?

What is most worrisome