NEW DELHI, March 2 -- India's industrial output expanded at an annual rate of 4.8%in January.

Factory output had grown at 5.2% in same period a year ago.

Data released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation on Monday showed that industrial output growth has been robust since November, growing at 7.2% and 8% in November and December, respectively. That was supported by more than 8% growth in manufacturing in those months.

The strongest overall industrial output growth so far this year has been in December.

That pick-up follows an average 2.8% growth in industrial production in the April-October period this fiscal.

Strong factory output growth will be good news for policy makers who have been betting on the favourab...