India's Ministry of Steel granted BIS exemptions to 202 foreign manufacturers across 16 countries under the SIMS portal. This policy shift eliminates mandatory compliance for specialized steel imports needed by domestic Integrated Steel Plants. Japan received the most exemptions alongside over 80 licenses, followed by South Korea alongside more than 50. The decision addresses supply chain bottlenecks in automotive, aerospace & engineering sectors requiring high-grade steel unavailable domestically, potentially saving industries billions in compliance costs.