Core Industries Grow 7.9% in September 2026
Context: India's Index of Core Industries (ICI) recorded 7.9% year-on-year growth in September 2026, indicating stronger output across key industrial sectors.
Key Facts on the Revised ICI Series
Iron ore became the ninth core industry under the revised ICI series.
Base year 2022–23, replacing 2011–12; compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Nine Core Industries by Weight
Electricity (30.932%) > Petroleum refinery products (22.572%) > Steel (17.584%) > Crude oil (7.430%) > Coal (5.596%) > Iron ore (4.905%) > Cement (4.410%) > Natural gas (3.841%) > Fertilisers (2.731%).
ICI vs IIP
The ICI tracks nine core industries; the broader IIP, compiled by the National Statistical Office (NSO), measures output across mining, manufacturing and electricity.
The nine core industries together account for 32.88% of the IIP's weight under the revised series.
Prelims Practice MCQ
+2 correct • −0.66 wrongConsider the following statements:
1. Iron ore has been added as the ninth core industry under the revised Index of Core Industries series with 2022–23 as the base year.
2. The Index of Core Industries is compiled by the National Statistical Office.
3. Electricity has the highest weight among the nine core industries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Mains Question
10 Marks • 150 WordsDiscuss the significance of the Index of Core Industries and its relationship with the Index of Industrial Production.
- State the revision facts — iron ore added (9th industry), base year 2022–23 (from 2011–12), growth 7.9% in September 2026.
- Memorise the weight order — Electricity, Petroleum refinery products, Steel, Crude oil, Coal, Iron ore, Cement, Natural gas, Fertilisers — with the top three weights.
- Distinguish the compilers — ICI by OEA (DPIIT), IIP by NSO (MoSPI).
- Cite the 32.88% weight of core industries in the IIP.
- Link to the 6 October IIP topic and 15 October WPI topic for the broader industrial-data context.
