Eight core sectors registered negative growth of 0.1 per cent in March while production growth slowed down to 3.5 per cent in 2014-15 against 4.2 pervious in previous year, government data showed on Thursday.
The infrastructure sector comprises coal, crude oil, oil refining, natural gas, steel, cement, electricity and fertilisers.
The eight sectors contribute 38 per cent to the overall industrial production, a parameter that the Reserve Bank takes into account while framing its monetary policy.
Decline in output of crude oil and natural gas pulled down the growth of eight core industries to 17-month low of 1.4 per cent in February.
Coal production increased by 6.0 per cent while its cumulative index during April to March, 2014-15 increased by 8.2 per cent over corresponding period of previous year.
Crude Oil production increased by 1.7 per cent while its cumulative index during April to March, 2014-15 declined by 0.9 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.
Petroleum Refinery production declined by 1.3 per cent and steel production declined by 4.4 per cent in March.
