Explore the major sectors in the Indian and global stock markets, and understand how sector-wise categorisation helps in stock evaluation and analysis.
The stock market is broadly divided into sectors that group companies based on their core business activities. Understanding these sectors is vital for investors as it allows for a more structured approach to analysing stocks, comparing similar businesses, and making informed decisions. In the Indian context, sectors help track industry performance on platforms like NSE and BSE. Globally, the S&P 500 also follows a well-defined 11-sector classification system, offering valuable insights for comparison.
India's stock exchanges categorise listed companies into multiple sectors to facilitate industry-specific tracking. Each sector consists of companies that operate in similar domains and serve similar markets. Here is a breakdown of the sectors in India:
Sector Name |
Description |
Abrasives |
Companies that manufacture materials used for grinding, polishing, and finishing surfaces in industrial and domestic applications. |
Agri |
Firms involved in agriculture, farming, and related services such as crop production, fertilisers, and agri-equipment. |
Alcohol |
Businesses producing or distributing alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and spirits. |
Automobile & Ancillaries |
Automakers and component manufacturers that produce vehicles, parts, and accessories. |
Aviation |
Companies operating in air transport, including airlines, airport services, and aircraft maintenance. |
Bank |
Public and private sector banks that provides financial services such as lending, deposits, and payments. |
Business Services |
Firms offering professional or support services like consulting, staffing, or outsourcing. |
Capital Goods |
Manufacturers of machinery, tools, and equipment used in industrial production and infrastructure. |
Chemicals |
Producers of industrial, specialty, or basic chemicals used in various manufacturing processes. |
Construction Materials |
Companies supplying materials like cement, tiles, glass, and steel used in construction. |
Consumer Durables |
Makers of long-lasting consumer goods such as appliances, electronics, and home products. |
Crude Oil |
Firms engaged in exploration, extraction, refining, or trading of crude oil and petroleum products. |
Diamond & Jewellery |
Businesses involved in mining, processing, and retailing diamonds, gold, and other jewellery. |
Diversified |
Conglomerates operating across multiple unrelated industries or sectors. |
Education & Training |
Institutions and service providers offering educational, vocational, or professional training. |
Electricals |
Manufacturers of electrical products like cables, switches, transformers, and related equipment. |
ETF |
Exchange Traded Funds that track indices, commodities, or sectors, and are traded on stock exchanges. |
Ferro Manganese |
Companies involved in the production or processing of ferroalloys used in steel manufacturing. |
Finance |
Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and firms providing lending, investment, or advisory services. |
FMCG |
Fast-moving consumer goods companies selling everyday essentials like food, beverages, and toiletries. |
Gas Transmission |
Firms engaged in the transportation and distribution of natural gas through pipelines. |
G-Sec |
Government Securities representing debt instruments issued by the Indian government for borrowing. |
Healthcare |
Hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and firms offering medical equipment or health services. |
Hospitality |
Businesses in hotels, restaurants, travel, and leisure services. |
Inds. Gases & Fuels |
Companies producing industrial gases and alternative fuels for industrial and commercial use. |
Infrastructure |
Firms involved in the development of public assets like roads, bridges, ports, and utilities. |
Insurance |
Life, health, and general insurance companies offering risk coverage and financial protection. |
Iron & Steel |
Producers and processors of iron and steel products for construction and manufacturing. |
IT |
Information technology firms providing software, hardware, and digital solutions. |
Logistics |
Companies managing transportation, warehousing, and supply chain operations. |
Media & Entert ainment |
Businesses in broadcasting, publishing, digital content, and entertainment production. |
Mining |
Companies engaged in extracting minerals, metals, or other natural resources. |
Miscellaneous |
Firms that do not fall under a specific category but operate in unique or niche industries. |
Non-Ferrous Metals |
Companies producing metals like aluminium, copper, and zinc that do not contain iron. |
Others |
Businesses that operate in areas not covered by the defined sectors. |
Paper |
Manufacturers of paper, packaging, and related pulp products. |
Photographic Product |
Firms producing cameras, films, and imaging-related equipment or materials. |
Plastic Products |
Manufacturers of plastic goods used in packaging, construction, and consumer applications. |
Power |
Companies generating, transmitting, or distributing electricity from conventional or renewable sources. |
Ratings |
Credit rating agencies assessing the creditworthiness of companies and debt instruments. |
Realty |
Developers and real estate firms engaged in residential, commercial, or industrial projects. |
Retailing |
Businesses selling goods directly to consumers through physical or online stores. |
Ship Building |
Companies involved in the design, construction, and repair of ships and marine vessels. |
Telecom |
Providers of mobile, broadband, and communication network services. |
Textile |
Firms producing fabrics, garments, and other textile-based products. |
Trading |
Companies engaged in the buying and selling of goods, commodities, or financial instruments. |
Globally, especially in the S&P 500 classification, the 11 major sectors are:
Information Technology
Health Care
Financials
Consumer Discretionary
Communication Services
Industrials
Consumer Staples
Energy
Utilities
Real Estate
Materials
These sectors help in standardising financial analysis across geographies and aid in building diversified portfolios.
The Indian stock market, led by NSE and BSE, categorises stocks into over 12 key sectors, though the exact number can vary based on classification frameworks. These sectors include major industries such as Banking, IT, FMCG, Pharmaceuticals, Automobile, Oil & Gas, and Infrastructure, among others.