The Ministry of Steel has introduced 'SARAL SIMS' to simplify the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) registration process for small consignments of iron and steel items under ITC (HS) 2022 Chapters 72, 73, and 86 by MSMEs and other small importers, as well as imports under Advance Authorization, SEZ, and EOU routes for export.
Importers can access SARAL SIMS at www.sims.steel.gov.in/SARAL. Importers need to declare only the total intended quantity of import in the portal to receive a SARAL SIMS number, allowing them to import any number of steel consignments without consignment-wise SIMS numbers.
SARAL SIMS can be used for:
* Small consignments (≤ 10 MT) with an annual cap of 1000 MT ('SARAL SIMS for small import').
* Imports under Advance Authorization/SEZ/EOU routes ('SARAL SIMS for export purposes') without quantity threshold.
Importers must file an annual return detailing actual imports against SARAL SIMS registrations by April 30th of the next financial year. Imports against SARAL SIMS registration can be made until April 30th of the next financial year.
Exceeding the 1000 MT threshold requires regular SIMS registration for subsequent imports, forfeiting SARAL SIMS facility for that year.
The threshold for SARAL SIMS for small imports is 500 MT for the period up to April 2026. From financial year 2026-27, the annual cap of 1000 MT will apply.
The regular SIMS registration process has been simplified by reducing fields from 56 to 20. The requirement for clarification/NOC from the Ministry of Steel for Non-QCO covered grades is revoked. Importers can generate SIMS numbers for Non-QCO grades without clarification/NOC from the Ministry of Steel. These changes are effective from November 21, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
SARAL SIMS: Simplified version of the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) to make steel import registration easier for small importers and export-linked imports.
SIMS: Steel Import Monitoring System which requires compulsory registration for imports of iron and steel items.
Ministry of Steel: The ministry responsible for introducing and overseeing the SARAL SIMS and SIMS.
ITC (HS), 2022 Chapters 72, 73 and 86: Refers to the specific chapters of the Indian Trade Classification (Harmonised System) that cover the iron and steel items subject to SIMS and SARAL SIMS.
Ministry of Steel
Ministry of Steel Introduces ‘SARAL SIMS’ to
Make Steel Import Registration Easier for
Small Importers and Export-Linked Imports
Posted On: 20 NOV 2025 1:54PM by PIB Delhi
In an effort to simplify the process of compulsory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring
System (SIMS) for imports of small consignments pertaining to iron and steel items classified under
the Chapters 72, 73 and 86 of ITC (HS), 2022 by MSMEs and other small importers as well as
imports made under Advance Authorization, SEZ and EOU route for export purposes, a new facility
of registration process ‘SARAL SIMS’ has been introduced.
2. Importers can now access the facility of SARAL SIMS at www.sims.steel.gov.in/SARAL.
While generating SARAL SIMS registration, the importers have to declare only the total intended
quantity of import in the portal. They will be issued a SARAL SIMS number, against which they can
import any number of steel consignments for the year without requirement of consignment wise
SIMS number.
The importer can avail the facility of SARAL SIMS for-
a. Import of small consignments (less than or equal to10MT) subject to annual cap of 1000
MT (‘SARAL SIMS for small import’), or
b. Import under Advance Authorization/SEZ/EOU route (‘SARAL SIMS for export
purposes’) without any quantity threshold.
Importer will be required to file Annual Return by furnishing the details of actual import made against
SARAL SIMS registrations generated in a particular financial year by 30th April of the next financial
year.
Importer can make import against the SARAL SIMS registration generated in a particular financial
year up to 30th April of next financial year.
If the importers exceeds the threshold of 1000 MT of actual imports under SARAL SIMS in a
financial year, they will be required to generate regular SIMS registration for subsequent imports
during the financial year. However once they migrate to regular SIMS, they will not be able to use
SARAL SIMS facility for that financial year.
For the current financial year 2025-26, the threshold for SARAL SIMS for small imports is 500 MT
for a period up to April 2026. From next financial year 2026-27, annual cap of 1000 MT will apply.The registration process under the regular SIMS has also been significantly simplified by reducing
the number of fields to be furnished by importers from 56 to 20. These changes are aimed at
simplifying the registration process for importers and enhancing the ease of doing business.
Further the requirement of clarification/NOC from Ministry of Steel for Non QCO covered grades is
also being revoked. Hence importers will be able to generate SIMS number from the SIMS portal for
Non QCO covered steel grades without any requirement of clarification / NOC from Ministry of
Steel.
Above changes will be effective from 21.11.2025.
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AG
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