New Delhi: India’s core sector recorded a 5.4 per cent year-on-year growth in July 2026, reflecting continued momentum in key infrastructure and industrial activities, though the pace moderated from the revised 6 per cent expansion recorded in June.
The latest data, based on the revised index series with 2022-23 as the base year and nine sectors in the core basket, showed strong performance in iron ore, cement, electricity and coal. Iron ore output jumped 29.5 per cent, while cement production rose 13.1 per cent and electricity generation increased 9 per cent. Coal output grew 7.6 per cent during the month.
Steel production recorded a more modest 2.9 per cent growth, while refinery products returned to growth with a 2.7 per cent rise after contracting in June. However, crude oil, natural gas and fertiliser production declined by 5.3 per cent, 3.7 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively.
For April-July 2026, cumulative core sector output grew 4.3 per cent, significantly higher than the 1.5 per cent expansion recorded during the corresponding period a year earlier. The core industries remain an important indicator of industrial activity, accounting for about 40 per cent of the weight in the Index of Industrial Production.