<h1>India Targets Rural Steel Growth: Boosting Consumption by 1 Million Tonnes Annually Through Expanded Dealer Networks and Quality Standards.</h1> The Indian government is focusing on increasing steel consumption in rural areas, where over 70% of the population resides. An increase of 1 kg per capita in rural steel consumption could boost national consumption by 1 million tonnes annually. To facilitate this, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) have expanded their dealer networks, and SAIL launched a Rural Dealership Scheme. The steel sector, deregulated and competitive, includes both public and private players. The government has enforced quality control standards for steel products, mandating compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or ISI marks.