<h1>India's Core Industries Growth Slows to 3.5% in 2014-15; Oil, Gas, and Steel Face Key Challenges.</h1> The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) recorded a cumulative growth rate of 3.5% during April-March 2014-15, down from 4.2% the previous year. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, and Steel contributed to this decline. Specific issues included ageing oil fields, environmental challenges, refinery shutdowns due to accidents, and infrastructural bottlenecks. Fertilizer production was impacted by natural gas shortages and raw material issues. The government is implementing policy and infrastructure improvements to address these challenges. This information was provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in a written response to the Rajya Sabha.