कोर सेक्टर्स की गतिविधि अप्रैल 2026 में 1.7% बढ़ी – स्टील, सीमेंट और पावर अग्रसर जबकि तेल, गैस और फर्टिलाइज़र घटे

The Index of Eight Core Industries recorded a marginal rise to 1.7% in April 2026, up from 1.2% in March. The data, released on 20 May 2026 , shows a mixed picture: some sectors are expanding, while others continue to shrink. Key Developments Overall activity in the eight core sectors grew to 1.7% in April 2026. The Index of Eight Core Industries for March was revised up to 1.2% from an earlier -0.4% estimate. Domestic crude oil fell by 3.9% , marking eight straight months of decline. Natural gas contracted by 4.3% after a brief March rebound; the sector had been shrinking for 20 months prior. Due to lower gas output and higher import costs, the fertiliser sector contracted 8.6% , better than March’s ~25% fall. Refinery products slipped 0.5% in April, reversing a modest 0.1% gain in March. Steel output surged 6.2% and cement grew 9.4% , the highest in three months, indicating a possible revival in construction. Electricity generation rose 4.1% , a three‑month high, after a revised 0.8% gain in March. Coal output declined 8.7% , the second month of contraction. Important Facts The revised March growth figures for steel (7.7% up from 2.2% provisional) and cement (4.7% up from 4%) highlight the tendency of official data to be updated after detailed review. The contraction in the oil and gas segments underscores persistent supply‑side challenges, while the strong performance of steel, cement and power points to a tentative rebound in infrastructure activity. UPSC Relevance Understanding the dynamics of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Commerce and Industry — the government body that publishes the Index of Eight Core Industries and formulates industrial poli