Core sector growth at 13-month high in August on low base

Good showing in steel and coal sectors propels output

- SHIVA RAJORA

A low base effect and a good steel and coal production propelled the output growth in India’s eight core infrastructure industries to 13-month high of 6.3 per cent in August against the negative growth seen during the same month of 2024, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday showed.

This was also a sharp jump from the upwardly revised figure of 3.7 per cent in July this year. In August 2024, the Index of Core Industries (ICI) had declined to -1.3 per cent. For the first five months (April-August) of the current financial year, growth stood at 2.9 per cent against 4.72 per cent last year.