India's infrastructure output grew by just 0.5% in April 2025, a sharp decline from 4.6% in March, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The index tracks eight core industries—coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity—which together account for 40% of industrial production. Cement output rose 6.7%, and steel increased 3%, while coal production grew 3.5%. However, crude oil saw a decline of 2.8%, and fertilizer production contracted 4.2%, compared to an 8.8% increase in the previous month. Natural gas edged up 0.4%, and electricity generation rose 1%, down from 6.2% in March. The cumulative core sector growth from April to March 2024–25 stood at 4.5%. The sharp moderation in April suggests weaker industrial momentum at the start of the fiscal year, with declines in key sectors like crude oil and fertilizers dragging down overall growth despite strength in cement and coal.