About ICI 

• The monthly Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) is a production volume index.
• ICI measures combined and individual performance of production of eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. These industries are likely to impact on general economic activities as well as industrial activities. 
• The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). 
• Industry Weight (In percentage):
  • Petroleum & Refinery production – 28.04 
  • Electricity generation – 19.85 
  • Steel production – 17.92 
  • Coal production – 10.33 
  • Crude Oil production – 8.98 
  • Natural Gas production – 6.88 
  • Cement production – 5.37 
  • Fertilizers production – 2.63

• ICI is released by the Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The base year of the ICI is 2011-12.

Why in News?

• The coal sector has exhibited the highest growth of 11.6 % (provisional) among the eight core industries for the month of February 2024 as per the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI)) (Base Year 2011-12) released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industries. 
• The index of coal industry has reached 212.1 points during Feb’24 as compared to 190.1 points during the same period of last year and its cumulative index has increased by 12.1% during April to February, 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.
• The Combined Index of Eight Core Industries experienced 6.7% increase in February 2024, compared to the same period of previous year. 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2016781