<h1>Index of Eight Core Industries rises 6.3% in August 2025 led by steel, coal, cement gains</h1> The combined Index of Eight Core Industries rose 6.3% year-on-year in August 2025 (provisional), driven by gains in steel (+14.2%), coal (+11.4%), cement (+6.1%), fertilizers (+4.6%), electricity (+3.1%) and petroleum refinery products (+3.0%); crude oil (-1.2%) and natural gas (-2.2%) contracted. The cumulative ICI for April-August 2025-26 is up 2.8% (provisional) versus the prior year. July 2025 data are finalized at 3.7% growth. The ICI (base 2011-12=100) covers eight sectors representing 40.27% of the IIP weight; monthly and annual indices are subject to revision as source data are updated.