Core industry output rose 7.9 per cent in September, up from a revised 5.9 per cent in August, led by iron ore, electricity, coal and refinery products.

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• India's core sector growth accelerated to 7.9 per cent in September 2026, on provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on October 21.
• August growth was revised up to 5.9 per cent from the earlier estimate of 4.8 per cent, with the final August index revised to 120.4 from 119.2.
• Iron ore recorded the fastest growth in September, at 18.4 per cent year-on-year.
• Electricity output rose 11.4 per cent, slower than the 13.1 per cent in August, and the sector carries the highest weight in the index at 30.93 per cent.
• Coal output grew 10.7 per cent, refinery products 10.3 per cent, cement 9.8 per cent and steel 4.9 per cent during the month.
• Fertiliser production contracted 11.7 per cent, natural gas output fell 4.6 per cent and crude oil production declined 1.4 per cent.
• Cumulative growth for April to September 2026 stood at 5.1 per cent, compared with 2.5 per cent in the same period a year earlier.
• Coal, refinery products, steel and iron ore have been the major drivers of overall core sector growth in recent months.
• The core industries account for 40.27 per cent of the weight of items in the Index of Industrial Production, so the data is an early signal of industrial activity.
• The index tracks coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity, with iron ore also reported in the latest release.
• The provisional index for October 2026 is scheduled for release on November 20.