Steel Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh told the media that India produced 120 million tonnes (mt) of crude steel during the financial year (FY) ended March 31, 2022. At 120 mt, the output was about 18% higher compared to the country's production in the prior fiscal year. India produced around 102 mt of steel in 2020-21, according to official data. The steel sector in India has traversed a fascinating journey from 1 mt at the time of independence to 120 mt in the last financial year, the steel ministry said at the National Metallurgist Award 2021 on Wednesday. The award has been instituted to acknowledge the contributions of metallurgists working in the iron and steel field. The areas covered in the award are manufacturing, waste management, research and development (R&D), design, education, energy conservation, and their specific contribution to achieving the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission objectives. Singh said steel application across segments would witness a quantum jump, and newer areas of usage such as drone technology will provide abundant opportunities to the steel players. The awardees were shortlisted by the ministry via a transparent process through a two-stage mechanism of screening committee and selection committee. The applications for participation in the award process were invited by the ministry via a notification, according to the statement. Image Source Also read: Indian steel mills step in to fill supply gap by Russia-Ukraine war