Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 20: The Ministry of Steel has introduced a new registration process called ‘SARAL SIMS’ to ease mandatory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS), particularly for small importers and export-linked consignments.

The move aims to streamline imports of iron and steel by MSMEs and small businesses, as well as shipments under Advance Authorization, SEZ, and EOU routes. Importers can now access SARAL SIMS at www.sims.steel.gov.in/SARAL, where they need to declare only the total intended quantity for the year. A SARAL SIMS number will then allow multiple consignments without needing separate SIMS numbers for each shipment.

Key features of SARAL SIMS include:

• Small imports: Up to 10 MT per consignment, with an annual cap of 1,000 MT. For 2025-26, the temporary cap is 500 MT until April 2026.
• Export-linked imports: No quantity limits under Advance Authorization, SEZ, or EOU schemes.
• Annual returns: Importers must submit details of actual imports by April 30 of the following financial year.
• Exceeding limits: If imports exceed the threshold, regular SIMS registration becomes mandatory for the rest of the financial year, and SARAL SIMS cannot be reused that year.

The Ministry has also simplified regular SIMS registration, reducing required fields from 56 to 20, and removed the requirement for clarifications or NOCs from the Ministry for Non-QCO covered steel grades, allowing importers to generate SIMS numbers directly from the portal.

The new norms under SARAL SIMS will come into effect from November 21, reflecting the government’s effort to ease compliance and enhance ease of doing business in the steel sector.