AS part of its efforts to widen and update sourcing of economic data, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Tuesday introduced a system to capture emerging industries like digital platforms, renewable energy and intermediation services. The reorganisation of sections and restructuring groups under the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 released on Tuesday will also define products more accurately, with a new India-specific six-digit coding.
The NIC 2025 aligns with the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) Revision 5, developed by the United Nations Statistics Division. It is developed by the National Statistics Office (NSO) to categorise activities across industries.
The 6-digit coding will replace the existing 5-digit structure, enhancing coverage of environmental and green economy activities, and distinctly classifying digital economy services. The MoSPI said cloud infrastructure, blockchain, platform-based services, and web search portals are distinctly classified, reflecting the evolving nature of the digital economy.
The ministry said that the NIC will serve as a vital statistical standard for compiling and analysing economic indicators across sectors.
“New classes have been created across multiple sections to reflect the growing role of intermediaries in sectors such as power, retail, logistics, healthcare, education, real estate, and food services,” the MoSPI said.
The updated classification now includes Sections A to V (previously A to U), with changes in scope and reorganization of certain sections to reflect new economic realities. Several divisions and groups have been restructured— for instance, digital and IT services are now split across sections J and K, and repair and intermediation services are placed in new divisions/groups.
Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles seizes to be a separate Division and are merged into the respective divisions for wholesale and retail trade.
Repair of motor vehicles is merged with repair and maintenance of computers, personal and household goods. According to the MoSPI, India’s classification system, introduced in 1962, has been revised periodically in line with international standards and changing economic landscape, leading to NIC 1970, NIC 1987, NIC 1990, NIC 1998, NIC 2004 and NIC 2008.
