The combined index of India’s eight core infrastructure industries rose by 4% in January compared to the same period last year, driven by strong performances in the steel and cement sectors. Official data from the Commerce and Industry Ministry revealed positive growth in electricity, fertilizers, and coal production during January.
Steel production saw a significant 9.9% increase in January, while the cement sector experienced a double-digit growth of 10.7% due to heightened demand from substantial government investments in infrastructure projects. Additionally, construction activities surged during the month.
In January, coal production went up by 3.1%, and electricity generation witnessed a 3.8% rise. Fertilizer production also showed growth at 3.7% during the month, attributed to increased rabi sowing and higher farm incomes from a stronger agricultural sector performance.
However, crude oil and natural gas production declined in January, while petroleum refinery production remained stable compared to the same period last year. The final growth rate for the eight core industries in December 2025 was revised to 4.7%, with a cumulative growth rate of 2.8% from April to January 2025-26 compared to the previous year.
The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) monitors the collective and individual production performance of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity. These industries represent 40.27% of the items in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and serve as a key indicator of India’s industrial growth.
