Quality Concerns in Indian Newsprint: The Call for Global Standards

The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) raises concerns over the quality of domestic newsprint, urging the need for aligning domestic production with international standards. Despite India having 123 newsprint mills, actual production and quality fall short. Imports remain crucial until domestic capabilities are enhanced to meet global standards.

The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) has voiced serious concerns regarding the quality and standards of domestic newsprint in India. According to a statement from INS President Vivek Gupta, the domestic industry is currently unable to meet international benchmarks, necessitating continued imports to ensure quality production.

The INS pointed out discrepancies in the capacity and output of the domestic newsprint industry. Despite claims of significant installed capacity, actual utilization lags behind. Additionally, the quality issue persists as current classifications under the Bureau of Indian Standards do not meet publishers' needs.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the importance of adhering to global standards to improve product quality and facilitate free trade. The INS concurs, noting that until domestic quality meets global standards, imports will be essential for maintaining efficiency in newspaper production.

(With inputs from agencies.)