The National Industrial Classification (NIC) Code is a regularized system used to classify business activities in India. The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) was established to organize economic data and streamline business processes.

What is NIC Code?

The NIC code work as a systematic structure for categorizing industries on the basis of their primary economic activities. It enables the collection, analysis, and comparison of statistical data associated to numerous industrial sectors. The NIC code structure is hierarchical, consisting of sections, divisions, groups, classes, and subclasses, each of which is represented by a numeric code. This categorization allows uniformity in reporting and increases the competence of governmental and non-governmental organizations in handling industrial data. The NIC codes are updated every so often to reflect the developing industrial landscape, with the latest version being NIC-2008.

Importance of NIC Code

Understanding the importance of NIC codes is important for both businesses and policymakers. Some of the key importance include:

• Standardization: NIC codes offer an even framework for categorizing industries, confirming regularity in data reporting and analysis.
• Policy Formulation: Proper classification helps the government to formulate targeted policies and regulations for particular industrial sectors.
• Economic Analysis: Researchers and analysts use NIC codes to study economic trends and evaluate the performance of various industries.
• Business Registration: Firms are required to disclose their NIC codes at the time of registration procedures, aligning them with their main business activities.
• Access to Benefits: Correct classification can make a business qualified for sector-specific enticements and support under government schemes.
• International Comparison: NIC codes enable the comparison of industrial data with international standards, assisting global economic assessments.

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NIC Code Use in India

In India, NIC codes are essential to a number of administrative and regulatory processes:

• Udyam Registration: Businesses should give their NIC code at the time of registration as Micro, Small, or Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on the Udyam portal. This categorization assists in availing profits such as subsidies, tax exemptions, and financial assistance modified to particular industrial sectors.
• Company and LLP Formation: For the duration of the incorporation of a company or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), identifying the NIC code is obligatory. It classifies the prime business activity, and also ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and enabling proper classification.

List of NIC Code

The NIC codes cover an extensive range of industries. Following is the complete list:

Section A - Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing

• Division 01 - Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities

1. Group 011 - Growing of non-perennial crops
2. Group 012 - Growing of perennial crops
3. Group 013 - Plant propagation
4. Group 014 - Animal production
5. Group 015 - Mixed farming
6. Group 016 - Support activities to agriculture and post-harvest crop activities
7. Group 017 - Hunting, trapping, and related service activities

• Division 02 - Forestry and Logging

1. Group 021 - Silviculture and other forestry activities
2. Group 022 - Logging
3. Group 023 - Gathering of non-wood forest products
4. Group 024 - Support services to forestry

• Division 03 - Fishing and Aquaculture

1. Group 031 - Fishing
2. Group 032 - Aquaculture

Section B - Mining and quarrying

• Division 05 - Mining of coal and lignite

1. Group 051 - Mining of hard coal
2. Group 052 - Mining of lignite

• Division 06 - Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas

1. Group 061 - Extraction of crude petroleum
2. Group 062 - Extraction of natural gas

• Division 07 - Mining of metal ores

1. Group 071 - Mining of iron ores
2. Group 072 - Mining of non-ferrous metal ores

• Division 08 - Other mining and quarrying

1. Group 081 - Quarrying of stone, sand, and clay
2. Group 089 - Mining and quarrying n.e.c.

• Division 09 - Mining support service activities

1. Group 091 - Support activities for petroleum and natural gas mining
2. Group 099 - Support activities for other mining and quarrying

Section C - Manufacturing

• Division 10 - Manufacture of food products

1. Group 101 - Processing and preserving of meat
2. Group 102 - Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs
3. Group 103 - Processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables
4. Group 104 - Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats
5. Group 105 - Manufacture of dairy products
6. Group 106 - Manufacture of grain mill products, starches, and starch products
7. Group 107 - Manufacture of other food products
8. Group 108 - Manufacture of prepared animal feeds

• Division 11 - Manufacture of beverages

1. Group 110 - Manufacture of beverages

• Division 12 - Manufacture of tobacco products

1. Group 120 - Manufacture of tobacco products

• Division 13 - Manufacture of textiles

1. Group 131 - Spinning, weaving, and finishing of textiles
2. Group 139 - Manufacture of other textiles

• Division 14 - Manufacture of wearing apparel

1. Group 141 - Manufacture of wearing apparel, except fur apparel
2. Group 142 - Manufacture of articles of fur
3. Group 143 - Manufacture of knitted and crocheted apparel

• Division 15 - Manufacture of leather and related products

1. Group 151 - Tanning and dressing of leather; manufacture of luggage, handbags, saddlery & harness; dressing and dyeing of fur
2. Group 152 - Manufacture of footwear

• Division 16 - Manufacture of wood and of products of wood & cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw & plaiting materials

1. Group 161 - Sawmilling & planning of wood
2. Group 162 - Manufacture of products of wood, cork, straw & plaiting materials

• Division 17 - Manufacture of paper & paper products

1. Group 170 - Manufacture of paper & paper products

• Division 18 - Printing and reproduction of recorded media

1. Group 181 - Printing and service activities related to printing
2. Group 182 - Reproduction of recorded media

• Division 19 - Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products

1. Group 191 - Manufacture of coke oven products
2. Group 192 - Manufacture of refined petroleum products

• Division 20 - Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products

1. Group 201 - Manufacture of basic chemicals, fertilizer & nitrogen compounds, plastics & synthetic rubber in primary forms
2. Group 202 - Manufacture of other chemical products
3. Group 202 - Manufacture of man-made fibres

• Division 21 - Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical & botanical products

1. Group 210 - Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products

• Division 22 - Manufacture of rubber and plastics products

1. Group 221 - Manufacture of rubber products
2. Group 222 - Manufacture of plastics products

• Division 23 - Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products

1. Group 231 - Manufacture of glass and glass products
2. Group 239 - Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products n.e.c.

• Division 24 - Manufacture of basic metals

1. Group 241 - Manufacture of basic iron and steel
2. Group 242 - Manufacture of basic precious and other non-ferrous metals
3. Group 243 - Casting of metals

• Division 25 - Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment

1. Group 251 - Manufacture of structural metal products, tanks, reservoirs and steam generators
2. Group 252 - Manufacture of weapons and ammunition
3. Group 259 - Manufacture of other fabricated metal products; metalworking service activities

• Division 26 - Manufacture of computer, electronic & optical products

1. Group 261 - Manufacture of electronic components
2. Group 262 - Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment
3. Group 263 - Manufacture of communication equipment
4. Group 264 - Manufacture of consumer electronics
5. Group 265 - Manufacture of measuring, testing, navigating and control equipment; watches and clocks
6. Group 266 - Manufacture of irradiation, electro medical and electrotherapeutic equipment
7. Group 267 - Manufacture of optical instruments and equipment
8. Group 268 - Manufacture of magnetic and optical media

• Division 27 - Manufacture of electrical equipment

1. Group 271 - Manufacture of electric motors, generators, transformers and electricity distribution and control apparatus
2. Group 272 - Manufacture of batteries and accumulators
3. Group 273 - Manufacture of wiring and wiring devices
4. Group 274 - Manufacture of electric lighting equipment
5. Group 275 - Manufacture of domestic appliances
6. Group 279 - Manufacture of other electrical equipment

• Division 28 - Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.

1. Group 281 - Manufacture of general purpose machinery
2. Group 282 - Manufacture of special-purpose machinery

• Division 29 - Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers

1. Group 291 - Manufacture of motor vehicles
2. Group 292 - Manufacture of bodies (coachwork) for motor vehicles; manufacture of trailers and semi-trailers
3. Group 293 - Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles

• Division 30 - Manufacture of other transport equipment

1. Group 301 - Building of ships and boats
2. Group 302 - Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock
3. Group 303 - Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery
4. Group 304 - Manufacture of military fighting vehicles
5. Group 309 - Manufacture of transport equipment n.e.c.

• Division 31 - Manufacture of furniture

1. Group 310 - Manufacture of furniture

• Division 32 - Other manufacturing

1. Group 321 - Manufacture of jewellery, bijouterie and related articles
2. Group 322 - Manufacture of musical instruments
3. Group 323 - Manufacture of sports goods
4. Group 324 - Manufacture of games and toys
5. Group 325 - Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies
6. Group 329 - Other manufacturing n.e.c.

• Division 33 - Repair and installation of machinery & equipment

1. Group 331 - Repair of fabricated metal products, machinery & equipment
2. Group 332 - Installation of industrial machinery & equipment

Section D - Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

• Division 35 - Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

1. Group 351 - Electric power generation, transmission and distribution
2. Group 352 - Manufacture of gas; distribution of gaseous fuels through mains
3. Group 353 - Steam and air conditioning supply

Section E - Water supply; sewerage, waste management & remediation activities

• Division 36 - Water collection, treatment and supply

1. Group 360 - Water collection, treatment and supply

• Division 37 - Sewerage

1. Group 370 - Sewerage

• Division 38 - Waste collection, treatment & disposal activities; materials recovery

1. Group 381 - Waste collection
2. Group 382 - Waste treatment and disposal
3. Group 383 - Materials recovery

• Division 39 - Remediation activities & other waste management services

1. Group 390 - Remediation activities and other waste management services

Section F - Construction

• Division 41 - Construction of buildings

1. Group 410 - Construction of buildings

• Division 42 - Civil engineering

1. Group 421 - Construction of roads and railways
2. Group 422 - Construction of utility projects
3. Group 429 - Construction of other civil engineering projects

• Division 43 - Specialized construction activities

1. Group 431 - Demolition and site preparation
2. Group 432 - Electrical, plumbing and other construction installation activities
3. Group 433 - Building completion and finishing
4. Group 439 - Other specialized construction activities

Section G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles & motorcycles

• Division 45 - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

1. Group 451 - Sale of motor vehicles
2. Group 452 - Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles
3. Group 453 - Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories
4. Group 454 - Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories

• Division 46 - Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

1. Group 461 - Wholesale on a fee or contract basis
2. Group 462 - Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals
3. Group 463 - Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
4. Group 464 - Wholesale of household goods
5. Group 465 - Wholesale of machinery, equipment and supplies
6. Group 466 - Other specialised wholesale
7. Group 469 - Non-specialized wholesale trade

• Division 47 - Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

1. Group 471 - Retail sale in non-specialized stores
2. Group 472 - Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores
3. Group 473 - Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores
4. Group 474 - Retail sale of information and communications equipment in specialised stores
5. Group 475 - Retail sale of other household equipment in specialised stores
6. Group 476 - Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores
7. Group 477 - Retail sale of other goods in specialised stores
8. Group 478 - Retail sale via stalls and markets
9. Group 479 - Retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets

Section H - Transportation and storage

• Division 49 - Land transport & transport via pipelines

1. Group 491 - Transport via railways
2. Group 492 - Other land transport
3. Group 493 - Transport via pipeline

• Division 50 - Water transport

1. Group 501 - Sea and coastal water transport
2. Group 502 - Inland water transport

• Division 51 - Air transport

1. Group 511 - Passenger air transport
2. Group 512 - Freight air transport

• Division 52 - Warehousing and support activities for transportation

1. Group 521 - Warehousing and storage
2. Group 522 - Support activities for transportation

• Division 53 - Postal and courier activities

1. Group 531 - Postal activities
2. Group 532 - Courier activities

Section I - Accommodation and Food service activities

• Division 55 - Accommodation

1. Group 551 - Short term accommodation activities
2. Group 552 - Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks
3. Group 559 - Other accommodation

• Division 56 - Food and beverage service activities

1. Group 561 - Restaurants and mobile food service activities
2. Group 562 - Event catering and other food service activities
3. Group 563 - Beverage serving activities

Section J - Information and communication

• Division 58 - Publishing activities

1. Group 581 - Publishing of books, periodicals and other publishing activities
2. Group 582 - Software publishing

• Division 59 - Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities

1. Group 591 - Motion picture, video and television programme activities
2. Group 592 - Sound recording and music publishing activities

• Division 60 - Broadcasting and programming activities

1. Group 601 - Radio broadcasting
2. Group 602 - Television programming and broadcasting activities

• Division 61 - Telecommunications

1. Group 611 - Wired telecommunications activities
2. Group 612 - Wireless telecommunications activities
3. Group 613 - Satellite telecommunications activities
4. Group 619 - Other telecommunications activities

• Division 62 - Computer programming, consultancy and related activities

1.    Group 620 - Computer programming, consultancy and related activities

• Division 63 - Information service activities

1. Group 631 - Data processing, hosting and related activities; web portals
2. Group 639 - Other information service activities

Section K - Financial and insurance activities

• Division 64 - Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding

1. Group 641 - Monetary intermediation
2. Group 642 - Activities of holding companies
3. Group 643 - Trusts, funds and other financial vehicles
4. Group 649 - Other financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding activities

• Division 65 - Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security

1. Group 651 - Insurance
2. Group 652 - Reinsurance
3. Group 653 - Pension funding

• Division 66 - Other financial activities

1. Group 661 - Activities auxiliary to financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding
2. Group 662 - Activities auxiliary to insurance and pension funding
3. Group 663 - Fund management activities

Section L - Real estate activities

• Division 68 - Real estate activities

1. Group 681 - Real estate activities with own or leased property
2. Group 682 - Real estate activities on a fee or contract basis

Section M - Professional, scientific and technical activities

• Division 69 - Legal and accounting activities

1. Group 691 - Legal activities
2. Group 692 - Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy

• Division 70 - Activities of head offices; management consultancy activities

1. Group 701 - Activities of head offices
2. Group 702 - Management consultancy activities

• Division 71 - Architecture & engineering activities; technical testing and analysis

1. Group 711 - Architectural and engineering activities and related technical consultancy
2. Group 712 - Technical testing and analysis

• Division 72 - Scientific research and development

1. Group 721 - Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
2. Group 722 - Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities

• Division 73 - Advertising and market research

1. Group 731 - Advertising
2. Group 732 - Market research and public opinion polling

• Division 74 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities

1. Group 741 - Specialised design activities
2. Group 742 - Photographic activities
3. Group 749 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.

• Division 75 - Veterinary activities

1. Group 750 - Veterinary activities

Section N - Administrative and support service activities

• Division 77 - Rental and leasing activities

1. Group 771 - Renting and leasing of motor vehicles
2. Group 772 - Renting and leasing of personal and household goods
3. Group 773 - Renting and leasing of other machinery, equipment and tangible goods n.e.c.
4. Group 774 - Leasing of nonfinancial intangible assets

• Division 78 - Employment activities

1. Group 781 - Activities of employment placement agencies
2. Group 782 - Temporary employment agency activities
3. Group 783 - Human resources provision and management of human resources functions

• Division 79 - Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service activities

1. Group 791 - Travel agency and tour operator activities
2. Group 799 - Other reservation service activities

• Division 80 - Security and investigation activities

1. Group 801 - Private security activities
2. Group 802 - Security systems service activities
3. Group 803 - Investigation activities

• Division 81 - Services to buildings and landscape activities

1. Group 811 - Combined facilities support activities
2. Group 812 - Cleaning activities
3. Group 813 - Landscape care and maintenance service activities

• Division 82 - Office administrative, office support and other business support activities

1. Group 821 - Combined facilities support activities
2. Group 822 - Activities of call centres
3. Group 823 - Organization of conventions and trade shows
4. Group 829 - Business support service activities n.e.c.

Section O - Public administration and defence; compulsory social security

• Division 84 - Public administration and defence; compulsory social security

1. Group 841 - Administration of the State and the economic and social policy of the community
2. Group 842 - Provision of services to the community as a whole
3. Group 843 - Compulsory social security activities

Section P - Education

• Division 85 - Education

1. Group 851 - Primary education
2. Group 852 - Secondary education
3. Group 853 - Higher education
4. Group 854 - Other education
5. Group 855 - Educational support services

Section Q - Human health and social work activities

• Division 86 - Human health activities

1. Group 861 - Hospital activities
2. Group 862 - Medical and dental practice activities
3. Group 869 - Other human health activities

• Division 87 - Residential care activities

1. Group 871 - Nursing care facilities
2. Group 872 - Residential care activities for mental retardation, mental health and substance abuse
3. Group 873 - Residential care activities for the elderly and disabled
4. Group 879 - Other residential care activities n.e.c.

• Division 88 - Social work activities without accommodation

1. Group 881 - Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabled
2. Group 889 - Other social work activities without accommodation n.e.c.

Section R - Arts, entertainment and recreation

• Division 90 - Creative, arts and entertainment activities

1. Group 900 - Creative, arts and entertainment activities

• Division 91 - Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities

1. Group 910 - Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities

• Division 92 - Gambling and betting activities

1. Group 920 - Gambling and betting activities

• Division 93 - Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities

1. Group 931 - Sports activities
2. Group 932 - Other amusement and recreation activities

Section S - Other Service Activities

• Division 94 - Activities of membership organisations

1. Group 941 - Activities of business, employers and professional membership organisations
2. Group 942 - Activities of trade unions

Section T - Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and services-producing activities of households for own use

• Division 97 - Activities of households as employers of domestic personnel
• Division 98 - Undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of private households for own use

Section U - Activities of Extraterritorial Organizations and Bodies

• Division 99 - Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies

Conclusion

The NIC code is an important tool in India’s economic and industrial framework. It ensures standardized classification, supports policy development and helps businesses in retrieving sector-specific assistances. By aligning with the NIC system, businesses will add to the accuracy of economic data, promote informed decision making and foster sustainable industrial development. Understanding and using the NIC code is vital to effectively navigate India’s regulatory landscape and take advantage of the opportunities available. It also improves transparency, promotes research, and facilitates international comparisons, making it an essential element in the development of India’s industrial ecosystem.