New Statistical Standard: MoSPI Releases National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) | National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 on 18th November 2025, during the 75th anniversary of the National Sample Survey (NSS) and World Statistics Day in Udaipur. This new classification system replaces the previous NIC 2008 standard and serves as a critical tool for statistical surveys, censuses, economic research, and policy formulation, reflecting India’s evolving economic landscape.
The NIC 2025 represents a significant structural overhaul, moving from a 5-digit to a new 6-digit coding structure. This expansion allows for increased granularity and flexibility to represent emerging sectors. The new standard aligns with the United Nations’ International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) Revision 5, ensuring global comparability.
Key features of the NIC 2025 include:
Digital Economy: Distinct classification for cloud infrastructure, blockchain, and platform-based services, acknowledging the rapid digital transformation.
Green Economy: Enhanced integration of environmental activities, such as carbon capture, waste management, and renewable energy, aligning industrial classification with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Intermediation Services: Expanded classes for intermediaries across multiple sectors including power, retail, logistics, healthcare, and education, reflecting the growing role of service aggregators and platforms.
Indigenous Sectors: Formal recognition of traditional sectors like Ayush-based healthcare and the handloom industry.
Technology Agnostic: The classification remains technology-agnostic, focusing on economic activity rather than the specific production technique used.
The release of NIC 2025 is a foundational step for evidence-based policymaking. By providing a contemporary framework that captures the nuances of fintech, e-commerce, and renewable energy, the government can now accurately measure these sectors’ contribution to GDP and employment. This standardized framework ensures consistency and comparability in economic data across different administrative datasets and statistical surveys, promoting greater coherence in national statistical systems.
What is the National Industrial Classification (NIC) and why does the shift to a 6-digit code matter?→ The NIC is the standardized system used to classify all economic activities in India for statistical surveys, censuses (like the Annual Survey of Industries), and national accounts (GDP calculation). It was first introduced in 1962 and has undergone periodic revisions (1970, 1987, 1990, 1998, 2004, 2008) to keep pace with economic changes. The shift to a 6-digit structure matters because it provides the granularity needed to distinguish specific modern activities (e.g., distinguishing “fintech” from general financial services), enabling more precise measurement of the digital and green economies.
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