Young sectors lead, conventional ones drag

31.2 million new telephone connections were added, while share of mining and quarrying fell to 2.1% of GDP

Indicating a paradigm shift in core infrastructure sectors, the Economic Survey noted that sectors like telecom network, air connectivity and coal production sectors grew faster than mineral mining, rail and road freight.

The Survey duly mentioned the initiatives for growth of renewable energy, auction of spectrum, the newly-enacted Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act as well as the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act. Both these regulations aim to allot coal and non-coal mines and minerals through auction.


The share of the mining and quarrying sector as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) declined to 2.1 per cent in 2013-14 from 2.8 per cent in 2010-11. Coal production witnessed a boost with an increase of 9.1 per cent during 2015-16, compared with 1.5 per cent growth in the same period a year ago.

Power generation on account of improved fuel supply witnessed an increase of 9.9 per cent during April-December 2014-15 at 793.73 billion units. "In April-December 2014-15, in the thermal category, generation from coal, lignite, and gas-based stations grew at 14.41 per cent, 9.64 per cent, and (-) 3.89 per cent, respectively," the Survey revealed.

The overall plant load factor (PLF), a measure of efficiency of thermal power stations, was 65.09 per cent during April-December 2014, compared with 64.57 per cent during April-December 2013. The Survey, however, didn't mention that average PLF during April-December 2015 declined to 61 per cent because of tepid power demand. The peak power deficit, however, was record low at 2.6 per cent, reflecting improved power supply.

Growth in freight
The freight carried by Indian Railways increased 5.1 per cent to 39.15 million tonnes from the year ago period. International cargo throughput at Indian airports increased by 8.3 per cent and the domestic one by 19.3 per cent in April-December 2014-15 from the corresponding period of 2013-14.

The growth of cargo at non-major ports was 9.1 per cent while at major ports it grew at only five per cent, during April-December 2014-15. Major and non-major ports achieved total cargo throughput of 775.17 million tonnes, showing an increase of 6.8 per cent over the same period of 2013-14.

The fastest growth, however, was seen in the telecommunications sector wherein the total broadband connections touched 82.22 million. During April-November 2014-15, 31.2 million new telephone connections were added, significantly more than 12.13 million new connections in the corresponding period of 2013-14.