Industrial production in India barely grew at 0.1% in March

Industrial production in the country based on the general index of industrial production (IIP) increased by a marginal 0.1 per cent year-on-year in March against a 2 per cent growth in February 2016 and a 2.1 per cent growth in March 2015.

Industrial production recorded a cumulative growth of 2.4 per cent in April-March 2015-16, quick estimates provided by the Central Statistics Office showed.

Production in the mining, manufacturing sectors registered negative growth of (-) 0.1 per cent and (-) 1.2 per cent, respectively, while electricity generation recorded a growth of 11.3 per cent in March 2016. The three sectors recorded cumulative growth rates of 2.2 per cent, 2.0 per cent and 5.6 per cent, respectively in April-March 2015-16.

Twelve out of the 22 industry groups in the manufacturing sector have shown positive growth during March 2016 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

The industry group 'Radio, TV and communication equipment and apparatus' has shown the highest positive growth of 36.5 per cent, followed by 19.8 per cent in 'Tobacco products' and 16.9 per cent in 'Wearing apparel, dressing and dyeing of fur'.

On the other hand, the industry group 'Electrical machinery and apparatus' has shown the highest negative growth of (-) 36.2 per cent, followed by (-) 15.0 per cent in 'Food products and beverages' and (-) 9.9 per cent in 'Publishing, printing and reproduction of recorded media'.

Basic goods production increased 4.0 per cent while capital goods production registered negative growth of (-) 15.4 per cent. Production of intermediate goods, however, grew 3.7 per cent in March 2016.

Production of consumer durables and consumer non-durables recorded growth rates of 8.7 per cent and (-) 4.4 per cent, respectively, with the overall growth in consumer goods being 0.4 per cent.