PIB TrackerCore Industries index rebased to 2022-23 — and iron ore joins as a new sector
The government released a revised Index of Core Industries with base year 2022-23, replacing the old 2011-12 series and adding iron ore as a new core sector — modernising a key lead indicator of the infrastructure and input industries that drive industrial output.
What happened
- The OEA (DPIIT) released a revised Index of Core Industries (ICI) with base year 2022-23.
- It replaces the 2011-12 series; the first release is for June 2026 (provisional), with a back series from April 2023.
- Iron ore is added as a core sector — expanding beyond the traditional eight core industries.
- The eight core industries (coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, electricity) make up ~40% of the IIP.
- Rebasing to 2022-23 updates weights and composition to reflect the current economy.
For Prelims
- Index of Core Industries (ICI): A monthly index of the eight core (infrastructure/input) industries; a lead indicator of industrial activity, compiled by the OEA, DPIIT.
- The eight core industries: Coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, electricity — with iron ore newly added.
- Weight in IIP: The core industries make up about 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
- Base year 2022-23: Rebasing (from 2011-12) refreshes the weights and item composition to reflect current output patterns.
- IIP: The Index of Industrial Production — measures the growth of industrial sectors (mining, manufacturing, electricity).
- Why rebase: Updates keep the index representative of a changing economy, improving measurement accuracy.
For UPSC: A useful economy/statistics item — the rebasing of the core-industries index and the addition of iron ore. Use it for industrial performance measurement (ICI/IIP), the eight (now nine) core industries and their weight, and why base-year revisions matter for accurate economic data.
What it is NOT: This is a statistical rebasing and methodological update (a new index series), not a policy or a production announcement. The ICI tracks output of core sectors; it is a measure, not a target.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.1 · GS3.9 · Linkage L1
Anchor
Measuring industry better — a modernised core-industries index reflecting the current economy.
Substantiation (data)
Revised Index of Core Industries (base 2022-23, replacing 2011-12); first release June 2026; iron ore added as a new core sector; the eight core industries make up ~40% of the IIP.
Exemplification
Adding iron ore and updating weights to reflect current production; the back series from April 2023.
Problematisation
Ensuring comparability across old and new series, and timely, accurate data for policy.
Way-forward
Use the modernised index for sharper industrial monitoring and align statistical series with the evolving economy.
Position
Accurate, up-to-date economic statistics are essential to evidence-based industrial and economic policy.
Deploys into: Economy — Indian economy + infrastructure (GS3.1, GS3.9) · the Index of Core Industries and the IIP, the eight (now nine) core industries, and base-year rebasing for accurate measurement.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry · 2026-07-20 · PRID 2286615 · PIB source ↗