The output of eight core sectors grew by 6.8 percent in March, driven by a base effect-led uptick in production of natural gas, steel, cement and electricity, official data showed on Friday.
The growth rate of the eight-core infrastructure sectors — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity — stood at (-) 8.6 percent in March 2020.
According to the commerce and industry ministry data, production of natural gas, steel, cement and electricity jumped by 12.3 percent, 23 percent, 32.5 percent and 21.6 percent in March, as against (-) 15.1 percent, (-) 21.9 percent, (-) 25.1 percent and (-) 8.2 percent in March 2020, respectively.
Coal, crude oil, refinery products and fertilizer segments recorded negative growth during the month under review.
During 2020-21 (April-March), the output of the eight sectors contracted by 7 percent as against a positive growth of 0.4 percent in 2019-20.