New Delhi, April 24 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called on India's steel industry to achieve zero imports and transform into a net exporter, describing the sector as the backbone of the country's vision for a developed India, or Viksit Bharat.

In a virtual address to the India Steel 2025 conference, the Prime Minister set forth an ambitious plan for the industry, emphasising that India must develop steel production capacity of 500 million tonnes by 2047 to align with national development goals.

"The steel industry is behind every success story in India," PM Modi stated, adding that the sector plays a crucial role in India's journey toward becoming a USD 5 trillion economy.

The Prime Minister highlighted that major govern...