New Delhi: India’s eight core infrastructure industries recorded a combined growth of 4 per cent in January compared to the same month last year, driven mainly by strong performance in the steel and cement sectors, according to official data released on Friday by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Steel production rose sharply by 9.9 per cent during the month, while cement output expanded by a robust 10.7 per cent, supported by higher demand arising from increased government spending on large-scale infrastructure projects and a rise in construction activity.
Power generation, fertilisers and coal also registered positive growth. Coal output increased by 3.1 per cent, electricity generation went up by 3.8 per cent, and fertiliser production grew by 3.7 per cent. Officials attributed the rise in fertiliser output to higher rabi sowing and improved farm incomes backed by better performance in the agriculture sector.
In contrast, crude oil and natural gas production declined during January, while petroleum refinery output remained flat compared to the same period last year.
The final growth figure for the eight core industries in December 2025 has been revised upward to 4.7 per cent. Meanwhile, cumulative growth for the April–January period of the 2025–26 financial year stands at 2.8 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.
The Index of Eight Core Industries tracks production across coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity. These sectors together account for about 40.27 per cent of the weight in the Index of Industrial Production, making the index a key indicator of overall industrial growth in the country.
With inputs from IANS