India’s infrastructure output increased by 3.8 percent in March 2025

Current Context: The "Index of Eight Core Industries" report, released by the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provides key data on the performance of India's eight core industries: coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity.

• These industries account for about 40.27% of the weight of items in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), making them critical indicators of economic health.

The report released on April 25, 2025, highlighted the following for March 2025:

• Year-on-Year Growth: Infrastructure output grew by 3.8%.
• Sector Performance: Cement (11.6%), steel (7.1%), and electricity (6.2%) showed significant growth, while crude oil and natural gas experienced declines.
• Cumulative FY25 Growth: The overall growth for FY25 was 4.4%, reflecting progress across core sectors.

Question:

Q.1 The "Index of Eight Core Industries" contributes approximately what percentage to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)?
a) 50.25%
b) 25.40%
c) 40.27%
d) 33.33%

Answer: c) The eight core industries together account for 40.27% of the weight of items in the IIP.