Why in News?
The Index of Core Industries (ICI) grew by 5% in June 2026, the highest growth in the last five months. The government also released a new ICI series with base year 2022–23, replacing the 2011–12 series.
Key Highlights
- Growth: ICI increased by 5% (YoY) in June 2026, up from 3.2% in May 2026.
- Base Year Revised: Updated from 2011–12 to 2022–23.
- Coverage Expanded: Iron ore has been added as the 9th core industry.
- Methodology Updated: Sectoral weights and estimation methods have been revised.
- Fastest Growing Sector: Iron ore (43.9% growth), largely due to a low statistical base.
- Other sectors recording positive growth: Electricity: 9.8%, Cement: 9.8%, Steel: 4.6%, Coal: 1.4%
- Sectors recording contraction: Crude Oil: –4.2%, Natural Gas: –7.4%, Refinery Products: –4.7%, Fertilisers: –3.3%
About the Index of Core Industries (ICI)
- Published by the Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
- Measures the performance of core industrial sectors.
- Serves as a leading indicator of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
- Accounts for about 40% of the weight in the IIP.
- Nine Core Industries (Base Year 2022–23): Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilisers, Steel, Cement, Electricity, and Iron Ore (newly added)
[2016] In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight?
(a) Coal Production
(b) Electricity generation
(c) Fertilizer production
(d) Steel production.