Centre advances copper, nickel, aluminium quality control by 6 months

04 Dec 2023 CW Team

The enforcement of quality control orders (QCO) on nickel, copper, and aluminium has been postponed by the centre for six months. The original date for the quality control orders to come into effect was December 1, 2023, but it has now been rescheduled to June 1, 2024. Quality control orders are implemented to prevent the import and sale of substandard products. The decision to impose these regulations was made on August 31 of this year.

According to a senior government official, "The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is formulated in the country, but they are not made mandatory. This allows industries to sell products complying with different parameters or not apply for BIS certification." In September of this year that the initial months of QC enforcement could lead to disruptions in the supply chain. While standards for aluminium, nickel, and copper have been in place for some time, they are only now being made mandatory.

"People suddenly woke up when the enforcement of standards was announced. There have been representations from 64 domestic companies in the case of aluminium that they have sought BIS certification, which is pending approval," said the official. Additionally, the official mentioned, "Since copper is largely an imported commodity, there were representations from companies in Malaysia, and Japan among others, to seek more time."

Consultations were carried out with primary, secondary, and tertiary producers, as well as consumers such as the automobile sector, before the decision to defer was made. Inter-ministerial consultations also occurred, where the BIS itself supported the decision to extend the QCO implementation by six months.

The QC order covered copper, of which roughly half of India's demand is met through imports. The entire nickel requirement for the country comes from overseas. Currently, India imports more than 40% of its aluminium consumption in the form of alloy scrap.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..