India, June 23 -- The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) rose by 0.5 per cent (provisional) in May 2026 compared to the same month last year, according to government data released on Tuesday.

The Eight Core Industries account for 40.27 per cent of the weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), making them a key indicator of overall industrial activity in the country.

The final growth rate of the ICI for April 2026 was recorded at 1.8 per cent, while the cumulative growth for the April-May 2026-27 period stands at 1.1 per cent (provisional), compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Sector-wise Performance

Coal (weight: 10.33%)

Coal production declined by 9.3 per cent in May 2026 compared to...