The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 during the ‘Culmination Ceremony' of 75th anniversary of National Sample Survey (NSS) and World Statistics Day 2025 on 18th November 2025 at Udaipur.

The NIC is a fundamental tool used in statistical surveys, censuses, economic research, and policy formulation. India’s classification system, first 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. The NIC 2025 represents the latest updated national standard for classifying economic activities in India.

The updated classification provides a comprehensive and contemporary framework for all economic activities, capturing the rapid transformation of Indian economy driven by technological advancement, innovation, and the emergence of new sectors. The revision reflects major structural, technological and organizational shifts in India’s economy, including the rapid growth of renewable energy, fintech, e-commerce and digital intermediation. It also recognizes important indigenous sectors like Ayush-based healthcare and handloom industry.

The NIC 2025 has been prepared by MoSPI in alignment with the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) Revision 5, developed by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD).  The revision was carried out under the guidance of the Expert Committee for Revision of Economic Classifications (ECREC) comprising subject matter experts and industry representatives, with extensive stakeholder consultations involving Ministries, Departments, States/UTs and academia.

The NIC 2025 introduces a new 6-digit coding structure, in place of the 5-digit structure of NIC 2008. This enhancement allows for greater granularity and flexibility, enabling better representation of emerging activities. A comparison of the structures of NIC 2025 vis-à-vis NIC 2008 is given below:

 

The salient feature of NIC 2025 are:

• Enhanced Classification of Intermediation Services: 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.
• Environmental and Green Economy Integration: Expanded coverage of carbon capture, waste management, and environmental remediation activities, with better alignment to SDGs and SEEA framework.
• Digital Economy Representation: Cloud infrastructure, blockchain, platform-based services, and web search portals are distinctly classified, reflecting the evolving nature of the digital economy.
• Classification is technology agnostic: In general, distinction of activities is not made based on whether an activity is carried out by means of traditional or modern production techniques.

The NIC 2025 will serve as a vital statistical standard for compiling and analysing economic indicators across sectors. It will significantly strengthen evidence-based policymaking, research, and sectoral planning, and promote greater coherence in national statistical systems. The classification will also assist in accurately identifying and reporting economic activities in a consistent and comparable manner. Going forward, NIC 2025 will form the standard framework for all statistical surveys, administrative datasets, national accounts, and other official statistics in the country.

The complete document National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 is available on the website of MoSPI at https://www.mospi.gov.in.

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Samrat

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