Eight Core Industry
Context:
India’s Eight Core Industries Index recorded 0% growth in October 2025, marking the worst performance in 14 months (since August 2024). Despite growth in steel, cement, fertilizers, and refinery products, these gains were neutralized by contractions in coal, electricity, natural gas, and crude oil.
UPSC Relevance:
Economy
UPSC PYQ:
Q. In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight? (2015)
(a) Coal production
(b) Electricity generation
(c) Fertilizer production
(d) Steel production
About Eight Core Industries:
- The Index of Eight Core Industries evaluates the collective and individual performance of selected key industries in terms of production.
- The index is compiled and published by the Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
- The eight core industries, in descending order of their weight: Refinery Products (28.04%) > Electricity (19.85%) > Steel (17.92%) > Coal (10.33%) > Crude Oil (8.98%) > Natural Gas (6.88%) > Cement (5.37%) > Fertilizers (2.63%)
- These eight major industries account for 40.27% of the items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Practice Question:
Which of the following have the highest and lowest weight among the eight core industries?
a) Coal, Electricity
b) Cement, Steel
c) Refinery Products, Fertilizers
d) Crude Oil, Natural Gas