New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- India's eight core infrastructure sectors grew 5.4% in July 2026 from a year earlier, easing from the revised 6% growth recorded in June, according to provisional data released by the ministry of commerce and industry on Thursday.

The July growth was led by iron ore, cement and electricity, which expanded 29.5%, 13.1% and 9%. Coal output rose 7.6%, while steel and refinery products grew 2.9% and 2.7%. Natural gas, crude oil and fertiliser production, however, contracted during the month.

The eight core industries together account for 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), making the core sector data an important indicator of industrial activity.

Iron ore, electricity an...