The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, engaged in a crucial consultation with representatives of the Indian Cement Industry recently.

The primary agenda of this meeting was to devise a more comprehensive mechanism to ensure the collection of cement production data, aiming for 100 percent coverage of the industry.

Cement holds a significant position as one of the eight core industries in India, constituting a substantial 40.27 percent weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). Specifically, within this index, cement production carries a weightage of 5.37 percent, underlining its pivotal role in the industrial landscape. Notably, the Indian cement industry stands as the second-largest globally, boasting an impressive installed capacity of 600 million tonnes and producing 391 million tonnes of cement in the fiscal year 2022-23.

Presently, the DPIIT gathers cement production data through the Cement Information System (CIS) portal. However, some plants have been inconsistent in their data submissions, prompting the need for a more robust system. Recognizing the critical importance of accurate data for policy formulation and economic analysis, DPIIT emphasized the necessity for 100 percent coverage and regular submission of production data by all cement plants.

During the consultation, Joint Secretary of DPIIT, Shri Sanjiv, highlighted the government’s efforts to streamline processes through initiatives like granting Ad-hoc permissions to cement plants for a specified duration, facilitating ease of doing business. Going forward, registration on the CIS portal will become a prerequisite for considering such permissions. Additionally, an updated CIS portal is in the works and will soon be launched to improve data collection efficiency. The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM) was tasked with liaising with the cement industry for the portal’s enhancement.

Assurances were provided by representatives of the cement industry regarding the regular provision of production data. They acknowledged the significance of accurate data for informed decision-making, benefiting stakeholders across the spectrum, including government agencies and investors. Furthermore, a commitment was made to ensure the onboarding of all remaining cement plants onto the CIS portal by March 31, 2024, demonstrating a collective effort towards enhancing data transparency and reliability.

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid mode, accommodating both physical and virtual attendance. Alongside officers from NCCBM, the gathering included representatives from the Cement Manufacturing Association (CMA) and several prominent cement companies. Notable attendees included Saurashtra Cement Ltd., Dalmia Cement (B) Ltd., Shree Cement Ltd., Adani Group, Star Cement Ltd., Jammu and Kashmir Cement Ltd. (JKCL), Heidelberg Cement, Orient Cement, Nuvoco Vistas Corp, Zuari Cement Ltd., My Home Industries Ltd., UltraTech Cement Ltd., and The India Cement Ltd., along with officials from the Cement Section of DPIIT.