SNIPPETS 23 MARCH 2026

Index of Core Industries (ICI): Growth of combined ICI slowed to 2.3% in February, compared with 4.7% in January, on an annual basis+ It covers eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity+ They comprise 40.27% of weight of items in Index of Industrial Production (IIP)+ Released by: Office of the Economic Advisor, Department for Promotion of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Commerce.

Global Findex 2025: Released by the World Bank+ Released after 2021+ The report showcases progress in global digital and financial inclusion+ India has achieved near-universal account ownership with ~90% of adults having bank accounts+ However, 16% of Indian account holders have inactive accounts, higher than the 4% average.

World Economic Outlook (WEO) 2025: Released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) + Biannual Report+ To provide global macroeconomic analysis and policy recommendations: growth, inflation, employment, trade and risk outlook+ IMF projects India among fastest-growing major economies (~6.3–6.6% for 2025/26).