Published: 20 November 2025PIBEconomy
Index of Eight Core Industries Oct 2025: Provisional Index Unchanged at 162.4
The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) for October 2025 was released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The provisional combined index remained unchanged at 162.4 compared with October 2024, giving 0.0% provisional growth. The eight core industries are Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Petroleum Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity, and together they comprise 40.27% of the weight of items in the Index of Industrial Production.
In October 2025, Fertilizer, Steel, Cement and Petroleum Refinery Products recorded positive growth, while Coal (declined 8.5%), Crude Oil (declined 1.2%), Natural Gas (declined 5.0%) and Electricity declined. Therefore, any statement that cement and steel contracted is incorrect; the drag came from coal, crude oil, natural gas and electricity. The final growth rate for September 2025 was 3.3%, and the cumulative April-October 2025-26 growth was 2.5% (provisional).
Mains angle
Q: What does the October 2025 Index of Eight Core Industries indicate about India's industrial momentum?
Answer (50 words):
The October 2025 ICI was provisionally unchanged at 162.4 (0.0% growth). Fertilizer, Steel, Cement and Petroleum Refinery grew, while Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas and Electricity declined. Since the eight sectors carry 40.27% IIP weight, flat core growth signals subdued near-term industrial momentum despite resilient construction-linked sectors.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Index of Eight Core Industries and how is it related to IIP?
The ICI tracks Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Petroleum Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. These eight sectors account for 40.27% of the Index of Industrial Production weight, making the ICI a leading indicator of industrial performance.
What was the ICI in October 2025 and which sectors grew or declined?
The provisional index was unchanged at 162.4 (0.0% provisional growth). Fertilizer, Steel, Cement and Petroleum Refinery Products grew, while Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas and Electricity declined.
Which ministry releases the Index of Eight Core Industries?
It is released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (through DPIIT).
What were the September 2025 final and cumulative growth figures?
The final September 2025 growth rate was 3.3%, and the cumulative April-October 2025-26 growth was 2.5% (provisional).
Is it correct that cement and steel declined in October 2025?
No. Per official PIB data, Cement and Steel recorded positive growth in October 2025; the declines were in coal, crude oil, natural gas and electricity.
