NIC Code for Manufacturing: National Industrial Guide 2026

National Industrial Classification, commonly known as NIC Code, is an important statistical standard used to classify different economic activities in India. It helps create and maintain a comparable database for industries, businesses, enterprises, and economic sectors. The main purpose of this code is to identify business activities clearly and understand how each activity contributes to national wealth.

For manufacturing businesses, the NIC Code plays a major role in registration, compliance, government records, MSME classification, company incorporation, and economic reporting. Whether a business is involved in food processing, textiles, chemicals, machinery, electronics, furniture, or any other manufacturing activity, the correct NIC Code helps classify the enterprise under the right industrial category.

A manufacturing unit may need its NIC Code while applying for Udyam Registration, registering a company or LLP, filing official forms, or dealing with different government departments. That is why understanding the NIC Code for manufacturing is important for business owners, startup founders, consultants, accountants, and compliance professionals.

National Industrial Classification 2008, also called NIC-2008, is the updated version of NIC-2004. The Department of Policy and Promotion agreed to move from the NIC 1987 edition to NIC 2008 through Press Note 4 of the 2014 series, dated 26 June 2014. Since then, every Indian company has been advised to follow NIC 2008 for classification purposes.

NIC 2008 is more compatible with the international system of industrial classification. This makes business registration, official reporting, and compliance processes smoother and more standardized. It also allows government departments and statistical agencies to compare Indian economic activity data with international classification systems more effectively.

The revised NIC-2008 provides a more contemporary industrial classification system. It groups enterprise activities into a clear hierarchy. Activities are first divided into Sections, which are alphabetically coded from A to U. Each section is divided into Divisions with two-digit numerical codes. Each division is further divided into Groups with three-digit numerical codes. Each group is divided into Classes with four-digit numerical codes, and every four-digit class is further divided into a five-digit Subclass.

This structure helps identify a business activity at different levels. For example, a broad manufacturing activity comes under Section C. A specific industry, such as food products or textiles, comes under a division. More specific activities, such as dairy products or footwear, come under groups and classes.

NIC Code is used in different business registrations and government compliance processes. It helps authorities understand the exact nature of a business activity and place it under the correct industrial category.

NIC Code is needed for several important reasons. It is not only a registration requirement but also a useful classification tool for government departments and business databases.

The correct NIC Code also helps avoid confusion during registration. If a business selects the wrong code, it may face issues in classification, documentation, or future compliance. For example, a textile manufacturer should not select a general trading code, and a food processing unit should not choose a service-based code. The selected NIC Code should match the real activity of the enterprise.

Manufacturing activities are covered under Section C of NIC-2008. This section includes a wide range of industries, from food products and beverages to textiles, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, electronics, furniture, and repair or installation of machinery.

The following table covers the NIC-2008 manufacturing divisions and groups.

Code Type	Code	Manufacturing Activity
Section	C	Manufacturing
Division	10	Manufacture of food products
Group	101	Processing and preserving of meat
Group	102	Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs
Group	103	Processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables
Group	104	Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats
Group	105	Manufacture of dairy products
Group	106	Manufacture of grain mill products, starches, and starch products
Group	107	Manufacture of other food products
Group	108	Manufacture of prepared animal feeds
Division	11	Manufacture of beverages
Group	110	Manufacture of beverages
Division	12	Manufacture of tobacco products
Group	120	Manufacture of tobacco products
Division	13	Manufacture of textiles
Group	131	Spinning, weaving, and finishing of textiles
Group	139	Manufacture of other textiles
Division	14	Manufacture of wearing apparel
Group	141	Manufacture of wearing apparel, except fur apparel
Group	142	Manufacture of articles of fur
Group	143	Manufacture of knitted and crocheted apparel
Division	15	Manufacture of leather and related products
Group	151	Tanning and dressing of leather; manufacture of luggage, handbags, saddlery, and harness; dressing and dyeing of fur
Group	152	Manufacture of footwear
Division	16	Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials
Group	161	Sawmilling and planning of wood
Group	162	Manufacture of products of wood, cork, straw, and plaiting materials
Division	17	Manufacture of paper and paper products
Group	170	Manufacture of paper and paper products
Division	18	Printing and reproduction of recorded media
Group	181	Printing and service activities related to printing
Group	182	Reproduction of recorded media
Division	19	Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products
Group	191	Manufacture of coke oven products
Group	192	Manufacture of refined petroleum products
Division	20	Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products
Group	201	Manufacture of basic chemicals, fertilizer and nitrogen compounds, plastics, and synthetic rubber in primary forms
Group	202	Manufacture of other chemical products
Group	203	Manufacture of man-made fibers
Division	21	Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals and botanical products
Group	210	Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals and botanical products
Division	22	Manufacture of rubber and plastics products
Group	221	Manufacture of rubber products
Group	222	Manufacture of plastics products
Division	23	Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
Group	231	Manufacture of glass and glass products
Group	239	Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products n.e.c.
Division	24	Manufacture of basic metals
Group	241	Manufacture of basic iron and steel
Group	242	Manufacture of basic precious and other non-ferrous metals
Group	243	Casting of metals
Division	25	Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment
Group	251	Manufacture of structural metal products, tanks, reservoirs, and steam generators
Group	252	Manufacture of weapons and ammunition
Group	259	Manufacture of other fabricated metal products; metalworking service activities
Division	26	Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products
Group	261	Manufacture of electronic components
Group	262	Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment
Group	263	Manufacture of communication equipment
Group	264	Manufacture of consumer electronics
Group	265	Manufacture of measuring, testing, navigating, and control equipment; watches and clocks
Group	266	Manufacture of irradiation, electromedical and electrotherapeutic equipment
Group	267	Manufacture of optical instruments and equipment
Group	268	Manufacture of magnetic and optical media
Division	27	Manufacture of electrical equipment
Group	271	Manufacture of electric motors, generators, transformers, and electricity distribution and control apparatus
Group	272	Manufacture of batteries and accumulators
Group	273	Manufacture of wiring and wiring devices
Group	274	Manufacture of electric lighting equipment
Group	275	Manufacture of domestic appliances
Group	279	Manufacture of other electrical equipment
Division	28	Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.
Group	281	Manufacture of general-purpose machinery
Group	282	Manufacture of special-purpose machinery
Division	29	Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers
Group	291	Manufacture of motor vehicles
Group	292	Manufacture of bodies, also called coachwork, for motor vehicles; manufacture of trailers and semi-trailers
Group	293	Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles
Division	30	Manufacture of other transport equipment
Group	301	Building of ships and boats
Group	302	Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock
Group	303	Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery
Group	304	Manufacture of military fighting vehicles
Group	309	Manufacture of transport equipment n.e.c.
Division	31	Manufacture of furniture
Group	310	Manufacture of furniture
Division	32	Other manufacturing
Group	321	Manufacture of jewelry, bijouterie, and related articles
Group	322	Manufacture of musical instruments
Group	323	Manufacture of sports goods
Group	324	Manufacture of games and toys
Group	325	Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies
Group	329	Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Division	33	Repair and installation of machinery and equipment
Group	331	Repair of fabricated metal products, machinery, and equipment
Group	332	Installation of industrial machinery and equipment

Choosing the correct NIC Code depends on the main activity of the business. A manufacturer should first identify what the business actually produces. After that, the activity should be matched with the closest division and group under Section C.

For example, a dairy business should check Division 10 and Group 105 because it relates to the manufacture of dairy products. A footwear manufacturer should use Division 15 and Group 152. A company manufacturing electronic components should check Division 26 and Group 261. A business involved in furniture manufacturing should use Division 31 and Group 310.

If a company performs more than one activity, the primary business activity should be selected first. The primary activity is usually the activity that generates the highest revenue or represents the core business operation. Secondary activities may also be mentioned where the registration form allows it.

For MSME registration, the NIC Code helps the Udyam portal identify whether the enterprise is engaged in manufacturing, service, or another business activity. Since MSME benefits, classification, and official records depend on correct information, the selected NIC Code should match the actual work of the business.

A wrong NIC Code may lead to confusion during verification or future updates. It may also create problems when applying for schemes, tenders, loans, subsidies, or government benefits. That is why business owners should check the NIC-2008 manufacturing list carefully before submitting their application.

During company or LLP registration on the MCA portal, the applicant must provide information about the business activity. The NIC Code supports this process by giving a standardized classification. It helps the Ministry of Corporate Affairs understand the type of business being incorporated.

For manufacturing companies, the correct NIC Code can show whether the business belongs to food processing, textiles, chemicals, metals, machinery, vehicles, electronics, electrical equipment, machinery, vehicles, transport equipment, furniture, or another manufacturing category. This creates cleaner records and reduces classification errors.