India’s core infrastructure output rose by 1.7 percent in June 2025

Current Context: The official data showing India’s core infrastructure output growth of 1.7% in June 2025 was released on 21 July 2025 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, specifically the Office of the Economic Adviser.

• The report is titled “Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) – June 2025”, based on the 2011–12=100 base year.

What’s in the report:

• It tracks output of eight key sectors: coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity.
• These sectors together contribute 40.27% to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• In June 2025:
• Steel (9.3%), cement (9.2%), and refinery products (3.4%) showed positive growth.
• Coal (-6.8%), electricity (-2.8%), natural gas (-2.8%), crude oil (-1.2%), and fertilisers (-1.2%) declined.
• Quarterly growth (Apr–Jun FY26) was just 1.3%, down from 6.2% in the same period last year.

Question:

Q.1 What was the year-on-year growth rate of India’s core infrastructure output in June 2025, as per the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) report released on 21 July 2025?
a) 2.8%
b) 3.4%
c) 1.7%
d) 0.9%

Answer: c) The report titled “Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) – June 2025” released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted a 1.7% growth in core sector output for June 2025.