National Industrial Classification (NIC) codes are statistical standards for developing and maintaining a comparable database for various economic activities. Here at File With CA, we provide this guide with aims to explain the purpose, structure, and application of NIC codes comprehensively. Here, we’ll explore what NIC codes are, and how they are structured, and provide a detailed list of these codes in a format that is easy to understand.
NIC codes are used to classify business activities in a standardized way across the Indian economy. These codes are essential for the analysis of economic statistics, and they play a crucial role in comparing economic activities across international boundaries as well. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) of the Government of India is responsible for maintaining and updating the NIC code system.
Purpose of NIC Codes
NIC codes serve several critical purposes:
Economic Analysis: They facilitate the collection and analysis of economic data, helping in assessing the growth and development of various sectors.
Policy Making: Governments use NIC codes to devise industry-specific policies.
Taxation and Regulation: They assist in simplifying the process of taxation and other regulatory practices by categorizing businesses into detailed industry classes.
International Comparison: NIC codes align with the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), allowing for the comparability of economic data globally.
Structure of NIC Codes
The structure of NIC codes is hierarchical and is broken down into several levels of detail, making it easier to categorize industries at various levels of specificity:
Section: The broadest category is represented by alphabetic codes (A to U).
Division: Two-digit numerical codes.
Group: Three-digit numerical codes.
Class: Four-digit numerical codes.
Sub-Class: Five-digit numerical codes, providing the most detailed classification.
Each level provides more specific details about the economic activities being classified.
Application of NIC Codes
NIC codes are used in various administrative, regulatory, and tax registration processes. They are integral in:
Filing tax returns
Company registrations
Obtaining industry-specific licenses
Conducting market research
Statistical analysis and reporting
Complete List of NIC codes
Here is an exhaustive list of NIC codes structured into sections, divisions, groups, classes, and sub-classes. For brevity, only sections and divisions are displayed in this example, and a more detailed breakdown can be accessed through official publications or our detailed client reports.
Here’s an overview of the sections and divisions:
Section A: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
01 – Crop and animal production, hunting, and related service activities
02 – Forestry and logging
03 – Fishing and aquaculture
Section B: Mining and Quarrying
05 – Mining of coal and lignite
06 – Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas
07 – Mining of metal ores
08 – Other mining and quarrying
09 – Mining support service activities
Section C: Manufacturing
10 – Manufacture of food products
11 – Manufacture of beverages
12 – Manufacture of tobacco products
13 – Manufacture of textiles
14 – Manufacture of wearing apparel
15 – Manufacture of leather and related products
16 – Manufacture of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials
17 – Manufacture of paper and paper products
18 – Printing and reproduction of recorded media
19 – Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products
20 – Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products
21 – Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products
22 – Manufacture of rubber and plastics products
23 – Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
24 – Manufacture of basic metals
25 – Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment
26 – Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products
27 – Manufacture of electrical equipment
28 – Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.
29 – Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers
30 – Manufacture of other transport equipment
31 – Manufacture of furniture
32 – Other manufacturing
33 – Repair and installation of machinery and equipment
Section D: Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply
35 – Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply
Section E: Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities
36 – Water collection, treatment, and supply
37 – Sewerage
38 – Waste collection, treatment, and disposal activities; materials recovery
39 – Remediation activities and other waste management services
Section F: Construction
41 – Construction of buildings
42 – Civil engineering
43 – Specialized construction activities
Section G: Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles
45 – Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
46 – Wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles
47 – Retail trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles
Section H: Transportation and Storage
49 – Land transport and transport via pipelines
50 – Water transport
51 – Air transport
52 – Warehousing and support activities for transportation
53 – Postal and courier activities
Section I: Accommodation and Food Service Activities
55 – Accommodation
56 – Food and beverage service activities
Section J: Information and Communication
58 – Publishing activities
59 – Motion picture, video and television program production, sound recording, and music publishing activities
60 – Programming and broadcasting activities
61 – Telecommunications
62 – Computer programming, consultancy, and related activities
63 – Information service activities
Section K: Financial and Insurance Activities
64 – Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding
65 – Insurance, reinsurance, and pension funding, except compulsory social security
66 – Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities
Section L: Real Estate Activities
68 – Real estate activities
Section M: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities
69 – Legal and accounting activities
70 – Activities of head offices; management consultancy activities
71 – Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis
72 – Scientific research and development
73 – Advertising and market research
74 – Other professional, scientific, and technical activities
75 – Veterinary activities
Section N: Administrative and Support Service Activities
77 – Rental and leasing activities
78 – Employment activities
79 – Travel agency, tour operator, and other reservation service and related activities
80 – Security and investigation activities
81 – Services to buildings and landscape activities
82 – Office administrative, office support, and other business support activities
Section O: Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security
84 – Public administration and defense; compulsory social security
Section P: Education
85 – Education
Section Q: Human Health and Social Work Activities
86 – Human health activities
87 – Residential care activities
88 – Social work activities without accommodation
Section R: Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
90 – Creative, arts and entertainment activities
91 – Libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural activities
92 – Gambling and betting activities
93 – Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities
Section S: Other Service Activities
94 – Activities of membership organizations
95 – Repair of computers and personal and household goods
96 – Other personal service activities
Section T: Activities of Households as Employers; Undifferentiated Goods- and Services-Producing Activities of Households for Own Use
97 – Activities of households as employers of domestic personnel
98 – Undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of private households for their use
Section U: Activities of Extraterritorial Organizations and Bodies
99 – Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies
Conclusion
NIC codes are a fundamental tool for understanding and analyzing the structure of the economy. They are crucial for businesses, policymakers, and researchers alike. As an accounting firm with expertise in economic and statistical analysis, we emphasize the importance of correctly classifying economic activities using NIC codes to ensure compliance and accurate data analysis. For businesses, understanding and applying the correct NIC code is crucial for regulatory and tax compliance, making it an essential aspect of business operations.