New Delhi, May 20 -- India's Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) grew at a provisional rate of 1.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in April 2026, according to data released by the Commerce & Industry Ministry on Wednesday..

While cement, steel, and electricity provided positive momentum, significant contractions in coal, crude oil, natural gas, and fertilisers weighed on overall performance.

The eight core industries - coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity - together account for 40.27 per cent of the weight in India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP), making the ICI a key barometer of broader industrial health.

Sectors in Positive Territory

Steel was the standout performer, recor...