India's industrial output picked up in April, rising 9.5% after an increase of 8.1% in the same month a year ago, official data showed June 12.
According to previously released figures, industrial output for the year to March came in at 8%, down from 8.4%, while in March alone, output was up 7.7%.
The April gain was led by a 10.4 % jump in manufacturing, compared to 9.2% a year ago, according to India's Central Statistical Organization. Manufacturing, including automobiles, steel and other industrial goods, has the highest weighting in the index at 80%.
Mining, which encompasses coal and crude oil output, rose 4.3% in April after 2.8%, while electricity output gained 5.6%, compared to 3.1%.
India's economy grew 8.4% in the fiscal year ended March, the second fastest rate in the world after China among the 20 biggest economies. Around a quarter of India's gross domestic product comes from industrial output.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006
