During April-June, the eight sectors grew by 3.5 per cent compared to 5.5 per cent in the same period last year
The electricity sector saw growth rise to 7.2%, up from 5.9% in April
Annual growth remains unchanged in FY19 at 4.3%
Electricity, refinery products remain in negative zone
Eight infrastructure sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity -- had expanded by 6.2% in January 2018
Economists blamed an unfavourable base effect, along with a sudden slowdown in the growth of cement production and electricity output, for bringing down the overall growth rate of the core sectors
Muted rise in cement production and electricity generation, apart from high base effect to blame
Crude oil and fertiliser production recorded negative growth of 3.5% and 8.1%, respectively
Cement production remains biggest growth puller even as three sectors remain in the negative zone
8 segments cumulatively grew 5.5% in first five months
On the energy side, coal production maintained growth, despite the rate of rise falling for the third straight month
But coal production sees a double-digit growth for second month in a row
Led by sustained rise in cement production and spurt in coal output
The growth in output compares with a upwardly revised 4.4 percent year-on-year growth in March
In 2017-18, the eight core sectors rose by 4.2%, down from 4.8% growth in the year before
The growth in the core sectors in February was boosted by a sustained rise in cement production, up nearly 30 per cent, dwarfing growth in all other sectors
This will serve to be good news for the Modi govt after the Index of Industrial Production plunged to 2.2% in Oct