The steel sector saw growth slump to an 18-month low of 2.2% in March 2026, while the cement sector slowed to a 17-month low of 4%. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos Activity in India’s eight core industrial sectors contracted by 0.4% in March 2026, the first month after the war in West Asia broke out, according to data released by the government. This was the poorest performance for the sectors in 19-months. The data on the Index of Eight Core Industries released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday (April 20, 2026) also showed that growth in the index stood at 2.6% for the full year 2025-26, the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. Published – April 20, 2026 06:59 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Watch: India–South Korea to upgrade CEPA, deepen strategic partnership Time limit extended for adding names to birth certificates