India’s Industrial Output Rises 6.7% in September, Lifting SME Supply Chains in Tier 2 and 3 Cities

Newsmantra — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 11:18:08 +0000

India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 6.7% year-on-year in September 2026, according to quick estimates released by the Press Information Bureau on 28 October. The growth was led by segments that depend heavily on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

The index stood at 124.3, up from 116.5 in September 2025. Manufacturing grew 7.6%, with 17 of 23 industry groups recording positive growth. Electricity and gas supply rose 11.2%.

Motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers grew 19.0%, with auto components, passenger cars and commercial vehicles contributing most. Electrical equipment rose 33.9%, led by switchgear, UPS systems and optical fibre connectors. Rubber and plastics products grew 19.9%, supported by tyres for light motor vehicles, acrylic sheets and V-belts.

Mr. Shrikant Goyal, Managing Director, Getfive Funds, said, “September’s IIP growth of 6.7%, with manufacturing expanding 7.6%, shows that industrial activity continues to grow, although at a more moderate pace than in August. From an investment perspective, the breadth of growth is encouraging: 17 of 23 manufacturing groups recorded positive growth, while capital and intermediate goods grew 10.4% and 12.2%, respectively.

For India’s SMEs, particularly those serving manufacturing supply chains beyond the major metros, this can create opportunities to scale. For investors, the opportunity lies in backing businesses that are strengthening their capabilities, moving up the value chain and becoming more integral to India’s manufacturing ecosystem. This is the stage where such companies need patient capital to scale, and we see a long runway ahead for India’s manufacturing-led SME story.”

These sectors rely on networks of component suppliers and ancillary units, many of them SMEs in industrial clusters outside the metros. Growth in these segments is likely to translate into fuller order books for such units.

Under the use-based classification, intermediate goods grew 12.2%, the fastest among all categories and the largest contributor to overall growth. Primary goods rose 4.0% and capital goods 10.4%, with the capital goods index at 153.4. Infrastructure and construction goods grew 7.2% and consumer durables 6.0%.

The data points to demand for inputs and machinery, a sign of continued investment by manufacturers and their suppliers. September’s growth was 6.7%, against 8.0% (quick estimate) in August.

India Logs on for The Big Billion Days: Flipkart Records 6.3 Million Concurrent Users as the Festive Season Opens

Newsmantra — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:19:26 +0000

· Over 6x more Indians shopped on Flipkart in the first hour than in a regular hour, with new customers growing 34%

· Nearly 1 in 2 visits in the first hour came from Tier 3 towns and beyond, with non-metros driving approximately 60% of demand

· Flipkart Minutes orders rise 3.5x, new customers grow 11x in the first hour; an iPhone 17 reached a customer in Delhi in 3.4 minutes

· Voice Search sees strong adoption in Tier 2-plus markets, with 64% of users from these cities

Bengaluru, October 9, 2026: India turned up for The Big Billion Days. In the opening hour of the 13th edition, Flipkart recorded 6.3 million concurrent users in a minute, kicking off the country’s festive shopping season. Every 15th Indian online shopper visited Flipkart in that first hour, with over 6x more Indians shopping on the platform than in a regular hour and new customers growing 34%. Early Access opened at midnight on October 8 for Flipkart Plus and Black members and Flipkart Co-brand card members, leading to over 287 million sessions as customers from across India shopped for Mobiles, Electronics, Large Appliances, Beauty, Lifestyle and Home. The opening hour is a strong indicator of how deeply festive shopping online has taken root in India, and Flipkart is serving customers across every corner of it.

Bharat leads the festive shopping rush

The clearest signal from the opening hours of TBBD 2026 is where the demand is coming from. Nearly 1 in 2 visits in the first hour came from Tier 3 towns and beyond. Non-metro customers accounted for approximately 60% of demand, with Sardulgarh, Panskura, Sheikhpura and Kishanganj among the fastest-growing markets at the opening of the sale.

Mobiles saw strong traction across premium and flagship smartphones, with affordability levers driving clear uplift: 1 in 4 customers opted for product exchange and 1 in 3 opted for No Cost EMI. Entry-level 5G models, held at last year’s prices, also drove strong purchases on value.

Large Appliances grew 30% year on year in the first hour, with strong demand across ACs, Refrigerators and Washing Machines. Tablets grew 73% yoy, reflecting a strong festive appetite for personal tech upgrades.

Beauty grew 42% year on year in the first hour, led by men’s grooming and self-care. At peak, Flipkart was selling over 1,600 units of Men’s Perfume every minute, a clear signal of how deeply personal care has entered the festive basket.

Festive shopping, delivered in minutes

Flipkart Minutes saw order volumes rise 3.5x over regular days and new customers grow 11x in the first hour, with demand extending well beyond everyday essentials into premium electronics, grooming and wearables. Demand beyond metros was particularly strong, with Tier 2-plus cities among the fastest-growing markets on Minutes in the opening phase.

During Early Access, an iPhone 17 reached a customer in New Delhi in 3.4 minutes, powered by Flipkart Minutes. Other popular purchases included air fryers, laptops and external hard drives.

How India discovered and shopped this TBBD

Content-led shopping drew strong engagement during Early Access. More than 1,000 hours of live commerce and over 500,000 short-format videos brought 12.7 million users to Flipkart’s video and live experiences. Voice Search saw strong adoption beyond metros, with around 64% of users coming from Tier 2-plus markets, and lifestyle and makeup products among the most-searched categories.

Gen Z led the festive shift toward self-care and personal style. Beauty grew 48% and Watches 42% among younger shoppers, with Sneakers, Perfumes, Skincare, Creatine and Jeans among the most searched items across fashion and personal care.

Early momentum for sellers and MSMEs

TBBD is driving growth across India’s seller ecosystem. On the early access day, 51% of transacting sellers recorded 2x growth over regular days. Sellers in Tier 2-plus India, including MSMEs and small businesses, grew 2.9x, with Bhiwandi, Panipat, Tirupur and Hisar leading the surge.

The opening hours of TBBD 2026 tell one story: a festive India shopping early, shopping for value and shopping from every corner of the country. The 13th edition has opened as the most geographically and demographically inclusive edition yet.

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India’s Industrial Output Rises 6.7% in September, Lifting SME Supply Chains in Tier 2 and 3 Cities

India Logs on for The Big Billion Days: Flipkart Records 6.3 Million Concurrent Users as the Festive Season Opens