India Core Infrastructure Output Rises Five Per Cent in June

Production of cement and electricity each rose nine point eight per cent in the month, while iron ore output, included in the index under the new series, jumped 43.9 per cent. By contrast, production of crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and fertiliser declined, tempering overall gains for the composite measure. The divergent performance across components left the composite index positive despite pockets of weakness in energy and refining segments.

The data were released with a revised base year of 2022-23, replacing the prior 2011-12 series, and the inclusion of iron ore expanded the core index to nine sectors. This methodological update altered the composition of the basket and contributed to the reported movements in sectoral outputs. Officials advised that historical comparisons are affected by the reweighting and that analysts should account for the series shift.

For the April to June quarter of 2026-27 the nine key sectors expanded by three point six per cent compared with one per cent in the same quarter last year, signalling an improvement in early quarter industrial momentum. Official figures showed that growth had been one point one per cent in June 2025 and three point two per cent in May 2026, underlining a pickup in sequential activity. The sequential improvement over recent months suggests early signs of recovery in industrial activity as measured by the core sectors.