RAS question
The third round of the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel was launched on:
Correct answer: (B) 4 November 2025.
The third round of the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel, called PLI 1.2, was launched by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on 4 November 2025.
Explanation
The third round of the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel was launched on 4 November 2025 by Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy. The Ministry of Steel PIB release identifies this round as PLI 1.2, the next stage of the Cabinet-approved 2021 scheme under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. PLI 1.2 aimed to attract new investment in emerging and advanced steel products such as super alloys, CRGO, stainless steel products, titanium alloys and coated steels. The application window opened on 4 November 2025, so the launch date is 4 November 2025.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 4 October 2025 is one month before H.D. Kumaraswamy launched PLI 1.2 on 4 November 2025.
- (C) 12 November 2025 is after the official launch date; the launch and the start of the application window were on 4 November 2025.
- (D) 26 November 2025 is too late because the Ministry of Steel had already announced the launch on 4 November 2025.
Concept
Production-linked incentives and industrial policy are part of the Indian Economy syllabus. Central schemes, ministries and launch timelines are common factual anchors in RAS economy and current-affairs preparation.