(Pooja Dubey, Intern Journalist) The production of the 8 most prominent industries of the country registered a decline of 9.6 percent in July. These eight industries are called the core sectors of the country. These 8 industries are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity.
The core sector declined due to a decline in July mainly in the steel, refinery products, and cement sectors. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the production of these 8 major industries increased by 2.6 percent in July 2019, a year earlier. In July this year, the core sector production dropped for the fifth consecutive month in July.
Except for fertilizers, production in all 7 sectors declined in July. April – July 2020, ie, the core sector production declined by 20.5 percent in the first four months of this business year. The production of the core sector increased by 3.2 percent in April-July 2019.
The core sector declined every month after a lockdown was imposed in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection. The core sector fell 8.6 percent in March 2020. It fell 37 percent in April. It declined 22 percent in May. It dropped 15 percent in June. The lockdown was imposed on March 25 across the country. Some states had already imposed lockdowns.