Question

why steel rod does not acquire magnetism that easily, with which a soft iron rod does?

Answer 1

Susceptibility of an substance is defines the response of the substance towards the applied magnetic field.
Steel is the alloy which contain approximate 98% of iron and 2% other matels.
Only some metals can be magnetised i.e. iron, nickel, cobalt.
Iron can be magnetised easily because its susceptibility is high where as steel can not be magnetised easily as its susceptibility is low.