New Delhi

According to data issued by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Friday, the eight essential industries—which include industries like coal, cement, steel, and electricity—saw a 6.3% gain in May of this year compared to the same month the previous year.

May had a strong 12.8% growth in electricity generation compared to the same month the previous year.

Steel output increased by 7.6% in May, but coal production also saw double-digit growth in May, rising by 10.2%.

Additionally, the nation’s production of natural gas rose by 7.5% in May 2024 compared to May 2023, facilitating the use of more renewable fuel in home kitchens and the transportation sector.

Production at petroleum refineries rose by 0.5% in May 2024 compared to the same month the previous year.

However, in May, the output of fertilizer fell by 1.7%.

According to the data, the index of the eight core industries’ cumulative growth rate increased by 6.5% between April and May of 2024–25 as compared to the same time the previous year.

These main industries indicate the overall rate of industrial growth and account for 40.27 percent of the weight of goods included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

The Commerce and Industry Ministry further stated that further data has updated the figures, bringing the ultimate growth rate of the Index of Eight Core Industries for February 2024 down to 7.1%.