India's core industrial sector expands to 7.9% growth in September

Data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that India's core sector index climbed to a 7.9% year-on-year gain in September, a notable jump from the 5.9% recorded in August. The surge was led by iron ore, which grew 18.4%, followed by electricity at 11.4% and coal at 10.7%. Other contributors included refinery products (10.3% growth), cement (9.8%) and steel (4.9%).

In contrast, fertiliser output fell 11.7%, natural gas declined 4.6%, and crude oil production slipped 1.4%. Over the first nine months of 2026, the core industries index posted a cumulative growth of 5.1%, compared with 2.5% in the same period a year earlier. The ministry also revised August's final index upward to 120.4, raising its growth rate to 5.9%. September figures remain provisional, with the October index slated for release on November 20.