India's Core Sector Growth in January

In January, India's core sector demonstrated a steady growth, with a notable expansion in cement and refinery products. However, the growth slightly eased compared to December, as per the latest data released by the commerce and industry ministry.

The eight core sectors, including coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity, saw a 4.6% increase. This is marginally lower than the 4.8% growth recorded in December but slightly higher than the 4.2% growth in January of the previous year.

Cement Sector Soars: The cement sector reached a 15-month high with a 14.5% growth during the month. Despite this, sectors like crude oil and natural gas experienced a contraction, leading experts to predict a sluggish IIP growth for January.

Fiscal Deficit Update: Additionally, the Centre's fiscal deficit reached 74.5% of the annual target by the end of January 2025, as reported by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA). This marks an increase from the 63.6% of Revised Estimates (RE) of 2023-24 in the same period last year.