India’s combined Index of Eight Core Industries increased by 0.5 per cent in May 2026 compared with May 2025, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday,22 June.
The ministry said the figure is provisional. The production of steel, cement and electricity recorded positive growth during the month.
The Index of Eight Core Industries measures the combined and individual performance of eight key sectors: coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity.
These eight core industries together account for 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production.
According to the ministry, the final growth rate of the Index of Eight Core Industries for April 2026 stood at 1.8 per cent.
The cumulative growth rate of the index during April to May 2026-27 was 1.1 per cent compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
Coal production declined by 9.3 per cent in May 2026 over May 2025. Its cumulative index declined by 9.1 per cent during April to May 2026-27 compared with the same period of the previous year.
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Crude oil production declined by 4.6 per cent in May 2026, while natural gas production fell by 4.9 per cent over May 2025.
Petroleum refinery production declined by 8.7 per cent in May 2026. Its cumulative index declined by 4.7 per cent during April to May 2026-27 compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
Fertilizer production declined by 0.9 per cent in May 2026. Its cumulative index declined by 4.5 per cent during April to May 2026-27.
Steel production increased by 5 per cent in May 2026 over May 2025. Its cumulative index increased by 5.2 per cent during April to May 2026-27.
Cement production rose by 8.4 per cent in May 2026. Its cumulative index increased by 8.3 per cent during April to May 2026-27.
Electricity generation increased by 8.7 per cent in May 2026 over May 2025. Its cumulative index rose by 7.1 per cent during April to May 2026-27.
The data shows that steel, cement and electricity kept the overall core industries index in positive territory, even as coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and fertilizers recorded declines during the month.
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