Mumbai, 18 July 2026: The Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI) has announced ‘ALUMINIUM BHARAT‑2026’, a national initiative to strengthen India’s value‑added aluminium midstream and downstream products manufacturing ecosystem and support the Government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.  The Mumbai curtain‑raiser press conference introduces the initiative to industry and media ahead of the flagship exhibition in Gandhinagar.

India possesses abundant bauxite reserves and ranks among the leading alumina‑producing nations, giving it a strong natural advantage in aluminium manufacturing.

Yet, despite this resource base, Indian aluminium manufacturers especially MSMEs are forced to buy primary and secondary raw material at some of the highest prices among major developing economies, driven by high interest costs, elevated energy prices and multiple fiscal levies on inputs.

Against this backdrop, ALUMINIUM BHARAT‑2026, to be held from 26–29 September 2026 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar (Ahmedabad), Gujarat, alongside ALUMEX INDIA 2026, is being positioned as India’s first comprehensive platform for the entire aluminium value chain.

The exhibition will bring together primary producers, extrusion and rolling units, recyclers, technology and equipment suppliers, policymakers, financiers and global buyers under one roof to deliberate on reforms, investments and collaborations needed to unlock India’s downstream potential.

Through this initiative, ALEMAI aims to spotlight four urgent priorities for policymakers and industry:

– Rationalising tariffs on primary and raw materials and reviewing FTA‑driven zero‑duty imports of downstream products to restore a level playing field.

-Reducing energy and finance costs to make Indian aluminium MSMEs cost‑competitive globally.

– Encouraging domestic consumption of value‑added aluminium products to fully utilise the country’s 3‑million‑tonne extrusion capacity.

– Aligning India’s aluminium strategy with global trends that favour high‑value downstream exports over commodity‑grade metal.

A key concern for the industry is the tariff and FTA imbalance between raw materials and finished, value‑added aluminium products. Under Free Trade Agreements with ASEAN and other partner countries, including the UAE, a large basket of downstream aluminium products now enter India at zero or near‑zero duty, putting severe pressure on domestic value‑added manufacturers.

At the same time, primary aluminium (HS 7601) attracts a basic customs duty of 7.5% plus surcharge, taking the effective rate above 8%, and similar levies apply on many other raw material categories. This structure makes raw material more expensive in India than in several competing developing economies, while cheap finished products arrive duty‑free creating a serious handicap for Indian midstream and downstream players in both domestic and export markets.

India’s aluminium extrusion industry has an installed capacity of about 3 million tonnes per annum, but is currently producing only 1.2–1.3 million tonnes, with imports of downstream products estimated at around 1.5 million tonnes to bridge the gap. This under‑utilisation of capacity is not due to lack of demand, but to structural issues high raw material costs, tariff distortions, expensive energy, and intense competition from subsidised imports under FTAs.

The situation undermines investments, keeps MSMEs in “survival mode” and prevents India from realising its full potential as a global hub for aluminium value‑added products.

Globally, leading aluminium nations are prioritising downstream value‑addition and exports of finished aluminium products rather than primary metal, using trade and industrial policy to promote high‑value manufacturing.  China, for example, has increasingly focused on boosting exports of fabricated and engineered aluminium components, thereby capturing more value and supporting domestic employment and technology development.  Indian industry leaders argue that India must follow a similar path shifting the policy lens from commodity exports to value‑added aluminium products and advanced downstream manufacturing.

By launching ALUMINIUM BHARAT‑2026, ALEMAI is calling for a focused, national conversation on how India can convert its rich bauxite and alumina base into globally competitive, value‑added aluminium products, powered by a resilient midstream and downstream manufacturing ecosystem.

To ensure active stakeholder participation and to offer comprehensive clarity on the scheme provisions and bidding requirements, the Ministry will host a Pre-Application Conference on 20 July 2026. Prospective applicants and industry stakeholders are encouraged to attend this session and raise queries for official clarification. The final deadline for the submission of applications has been set for 7 September 2026. Comprehensive documentation, including the detailed application timeline, guidelines, and the RFP, is currently accessible on the Ministry of Coal’s official website for interested public and private entities to review.

Under the MoU, Garuda Aerospace and Micron Instruments will focus on product distribution, joint technology development, and defence-focused projects. By integrating Micron Instruments’ expertise in custom-designed fuzes with Garuda Aerospace’s advanced drone technologies, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of next-generation indigenous defence solutions, including loitering munitions, payload-enabled UAVs, and advanced unmanned systems.

Speaking on the collaboration, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO, Garuda Aerospace, said, “We are proud to partner with Micron Instruments, a company that has consistently set benchmarks in precision engineering and defence manufacturing. This collaboration brings together the strengths of two advanced manufacturing organizations. It opens new opportunities in defence drones, loitering munitions, and next-generation unmanned systems, supporting India’s journey towards technological self-reliance.”

“Micron Instruments has spent over six decades developing critical engineering solutions for Defence, Aerospace, and Healthcare Industries. The future of defence will be driven by innovation, strong indigenous capabilities, and strategic partnerships. Our association with Garuda Aerospace reflects a shared commitment to developing advanced, homegrown solutions that strengthen India’s defence ecosystem and support the country’s vision of self-reliance,” said, Vikram Sahgal, Chairman & Managing Director CMD, Micron Instruments Pvt Ltd. 

As India’s drone ecosystem continues to expand, with the market projected to exceed ₹20,000 crore, Garuda Aerospace and Micron Instruments will leverage their combined expertise in advanced manufacturing, defence engineering, and innovation to capitalize on emerging opportunities. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing indigenous technologies and strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence and aerospace. With strategic collaborations spanning industry leaders such as Thales, Tata Elxsi, and now Garuda Aerospace continues to strengthen its role in India’s evolving defence and aerospace ecosystem.

The steel supplied by SAIL includes special quality DMR 249A grade hot-rolled sheets and plates. This specialized, defense-grade steel was meticulously manufactured and supplied from SAIL’s flagship facilities at Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela Steel Plants, underscoring the Maharatna’s robust technological capability in supporting India’s maritime defense infrastructure.

SAIL continues to propel the nation’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. By producing specialized steel for critical naval platforms, SAIL has become integral part to India’s defense indigenisation. To meet the emerging requirements of the defense sector, SAIL has taken extra measures well in advance to enhance the production of DMR Grade plates for defense requirements at its Plate-production facilities, specifically at the Special Plate Plant in the Rourkela Steel Plant. This strategic move is clearly reflected in India’s growing import substitution in the field of defense-grade steel. Its stellar track record includes provisioning the landmark indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, alongside the elite Project 17A stealth frigates-INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, and INS Udaygiri. Furthermore, SAIL’s specialized steel forms the backbone of formidable vessels like INS Ajay, INS Nistar, and INS Anjadeep among others. The successful induction of these advanced warships marks a defining milestone in India’s maritime capabilities and sovereignty.

SAIL CMD Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda said, “As a key partner in India’s defense sector, SAIL remains deeply committed to national self-reliance. To stay ahead in the defense sector’s growing needs, the company boosted its manufacturing capacity for DMR Grade plates -focusing heavily on the Special Plate Plant at the Rourkela Steel Plant. Delivering these high-strength DMR 249A steel plates protects India’s strategic independence while highlighting SAIL’s cutting-edge technical expertise.”

A major highlight of the event is the participation of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which showcased a wide array of advanced military hardware such as high-tech radars, AI-driven surveillance systems, and specialized communication tools. During the visit, the Defense Minister witnessed a live demonstration of BEL’s “BE-Vahan,” a high-altitude logistics drone designed for difficult terrains. By bringing together military leaders, technology innovators, and private industry, the symposium reinforces the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” mission, aiming to make India self-reliant in defense production.

This collaborative initiative will enable GRSE and K2 Cranes to explore and implement profitable business in respect of cranes utilized for marine, defence and shipyard requirements, both in India and abroad.

While GRSE’s mainstay continues to remain warship building and construction of other marine platforms, it also manufactures engineering products. It holds the largest market share in the country in the modular, steel bridges sector, having delivered over 5,900 of them to both domestic and international clients.

The celebrations began with Cmde PR Hari IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE along with the senior most employee of the company Shri Asit Kumar Biswas unfurling the National Flag, followed by the inspection of an impressive guard of honour by personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Among the others present were Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN(Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE, Capt (IN) P Sunilkumar (Retd.), Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), GRSE, Shri Abhishek Ranjan, IOFS, CVO, GRSE, Shri V Vidhun, Commandant, CISF Kolkata and senior officials from GRSE & CISF.

Cmde Hari, in his address, highlighted the importance of the themes of this year’s Republic Day that are “The Mantra of Self-Reliance – Vande Mataram” and“The Mantra of Prosperity – Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

He highlighted the remarkable performance of the shipyard over the last year and its commitment towards self-reliance and Atmanirbharta. The CMD also spoke on measures taken by GRSE to maintain delivery schedules and bag more orders.  He highlighted efforts by GRSE to build more commercial vessels and extend its already proven expertise in green technology to larger platforms.

“With 42 vessels – including 12 warships for the Indian Navy, 13 export vessels & 17 domestic commercial vessels- under construction, every corner of our yards is abuzz with activity. Recently inaugurated, the Next Generation VR Lab facility marks a major step towards strengthening self-reliant, technology-driven warship design and production capabilities in the country. From advanced naval platforms to zero-emission and hybrid-propulsion vessels, GRSE is committed to delivering excellence while expanding its footprint across defence, research and commercial shipbuilding,” Cmde Hari added.

He also underscored GRSE’s efforts to be a part of the Government’s initiative to develop India into a major hub for shipbuilding and allied activities.

CMD GRSE congratulated the CISF team for their exemplary turn out and excellent and graceful display, including the cultural program.

The initiative equips beneficiaries with industry-relevant skills for employment in manufacturing, plastics, and allied sectors, supporting sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic development. Aligned with the Skill India Mission and the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, SECL’s effort reflects its commitment to inclusive growth and long-term community development in mining-affected areas.