New Delhi, April 20 -- The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) declined 0.4 per cent year-on-year in March 2026, according to official data released on Monday, with lower output in fertilizers, crude oil, coal and electricity weighing on the overall reading.

As per the statement released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, "The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) declined by 0.4 per cent (provisional) in March, 2026 as compared to the Index in March, 2025." It added that "the production of Fertilizers, Crude Oil, Coal and Electricity recorded negative growth in March, 2026."

The Combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) is a monthly gauge tracking production growth in India's eight most critical infrastruct...