The combined Index of Eight Core Industries increased by 1.8 per cent in November this year as compared to the same month last year. The Commerce and Industry Ministry said that the production of Cement, Steel, Fertilizer and Coal recorded positive growth in November.

The Ministry said that the Coal production increased by 2.1 per cent, Fertilizer production by 5.6 per cent, Cement production by 14.5 per cent and Steel production increased by 6.1 per cent in November this year as compared to the same month last year.

However, the Crude Oil production declined by 3.2 per cent, and Natural Gas production also declined by 2.5 per cent in November. The Index of Eight Core Industries measures the combined and individual performance of the production of eight core industries – Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilisers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. The eight core industries comprise over 40 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production.