The Union Government has updated the Index of Core Industries (ICI) series. The revision matters because the ICI is a key monthly indicator of industrial activity and is used alongside other official statistics to judge the state of the economy.
The updated series brings the ICI closer to recently revised national statistical series, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross Value Added (GVA), inflation measures, and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The revision reflects a broader effort to keep India’s statistical base aligned with current production patterns.
What changed in the Index of Core Industries
The earlier ICI series used 2011-12 as the base year. The updated series shifts the base year to 2022-23 so that sector weights and production structures better match the present economy.
The coverage of the index has expanded from eight sectors to nine. Iron ore has been added because of its intensive use in industrial production.
The measurement method has also been revised in some sectors. Steel output is now computed on a gross output basis to align the ICI with IIP methodology. Coal is measured as raw coal only, while middling and washed coal are excluded to avoid double counting.
Related current affairs
- First press release of revised Index of Core Industries (ICI) series with base year 2022-23
- Core upgrade
- Provisionally estimated Index of Core Industries (ICI) for July 2026; revised final ICI for June 2026 (base 2022-23)
- Temporary respite
- India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grows 7.3% year-on-year in June 2026
- India’s Steel Sector Maintains Growth Momentum in Q1 FY 2026–27