India's Core Industries Register 2.3% Growth in February 2026
The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) in India recorded a growth of 2.3 per cent in February 2026, compared to the same month in the previous year, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This positive performance highlights a steady expansion in key industrial sectors, despite some declines in specific areas.
Key Performers and Sectoral Insights
The production of cement, steel, fertilisers, coal, and electricity showed positive growth in February 2026. Notably, cement production surged by 9.3 per cent, while steel output increased by 7.2 per cent, indicating robust activity in construction and manufacturing. Fertiliser production also rose by 3.4 per cent, supporting agricultural needs.
In contrast, crude oil production declined by 5.2 per cent, and natural gas output fell by 5.0 per cent, reflecting challenges in the energy sector. Petroleum refinery products saw a slight decrease of 1.0 per cent. Electricity generation, however, posted a modest growth of 0.5 per cent.
Cumulative Growth and Industrial Weight
The cumulative growth rate of the ICI from April 2025 to February 2026 stood at 2.9 per cent, compared to the corresponding period last year. This index, which measures the performance of eight core industries—coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity—carries a significant weight of 40.27 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), underscoring its importance in gauging overall industrial health.
For January 2026, the final growth rate was revised to 4.7 per cent, indicating variability in monthly performance. The cumulative indices for specific sectors reveal mixed trends:
- Coal: Production increased by 2.3 per cent in February, with a cumulative index unchanged at 185.8.
- Crude Oil: Cumulative index declined by 2.5 per cent.
- Natural Gas: Cumulative index fell by 3.5 per cent.
- Petroleum Refinery Products: Cumulative index decreased by 0.1 per cent.
- Fertilisers: Cumulative index rose by 2.0 per cent.
- Steel: Cumulative index surged by 9.7 per cent.
- Cement: Cumulative index increased by 9.2 per cent.
- Electricity: Cumulative index grew by 0.9 per cent.
These figures provide a comprehensive view of India's industrial landscape, with strong performances in construction-related sectors offsetting declines in energy production, contributing to overall economic resilience.
