Emphasizing the importance of easy access to key minerals for MSMEs, Ajay Srivastava, head of think tank GTRI, said lead is central to batteries used in vehicles, telecom towers, UPS systems and solar-storage units. After months of protest by the domestic industry, the Mines Ministry on Friday canceled seven more (QCOs) on key minerals including nickel, copper and aluminium. This comes a day after 14 QCOs on chemical intermediates, ranging from synthetic fibers to polymer resins, which were adversely impacting the textile sector supply chain, were withdrawn in the backdrop of heavy US tariffs hurting exports of the labour-intensive sectors.

While an unpublished NITI Aayog report had pointed out that most QCOs are affecting raw materials, intermediates or capital goods rather than finished consumer products, top metal trade associations had dragged the Center to court earlier this year over QCOs on copper cathode, saying it has led to shortages and is not in public interest.