New Delhi, March 1 -- India's eight core infrastructure sectors recorded a 4.6 per cent growth in January, slightly lower than December's revised 4.8 per cent but still the second-highest increase in six months.

On a sequential basis, the Index of Core Industries (ICI) rose 2.4 per cent from December, reaching a 10-month high of 173, marking the highest output level in 2024-25 so far.

The growth was primarily driven by a 14.5 per cent surge in cement production, reflecting strong demand from the real estate and infrastructure sectors, and an 8.3 per cent rise in refinery products, both registering their sharpest expansion in over a year. Coal production grew at 4.6 per cent, the slowest increase in four months.

Fertiliser output rose 3...