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How 2025 was for India’s industries. And what comes next
How 2025 was for India’s industries. And what comes next
As India closes the chapter on 2025, the year stands out as one of recalibration and sectoral reinvention. From industrial automation to hospitality, real estate to education, multiple industries have undergone decisive shifts that now shape the expectations for 2026. The common thread across these sectors has been resilient, not just surviving transitional pressures but turning them into opportunities for growth.
India’s evolving policy environment, demographic shifts, global economic uncertainties and emerging technologies together define a landscape that is increasingly dynamic. Sector leaders describe 2025 as a year of building foundations and 2026 as a year that could unlock accelerated, future-focused expansion.
MSMEs continued to contribute around 30 per cent to the GDP, and over 45 per cent to exports, securing their position as economy’s backbone. So, it only makes sense that we start off with them.
As of December 9, 2025, there are a total of 7.27 crore enterprises registered as MSMEs—a powerful indicator of the sector’s scale.
Throughout 2025, MSMEs strengthen their infrastructure through digitisation, easier credit access and deeper integration with formal supply chains. The push toward ONDC-linked commerce, expanded UPI and wider adoption of AI-driven inventory tools helped businesses operate with greater efficiency.
In 2026, MSMEs are expected to benefit from smoother compliance norms, growing export linkages and state-led skilling programmes that will aid small enterprises scale sustainably and compete more confidently in domestic and global markets.
Shailesh Dhuri, CEO of Decimal Point Analytics summarises, “2025 reframed the debate: the question is no longer whether AI can help, but whether AI can be trusted to run the business reliably. This applies across MSME credit, operations, cash-flow planning, customer service, procurement, compliance, and growth management.”
Dhuri further highlights four priorities for MSMEs in 2026.
From another perspective, Archisman Misra, Founder & CEO of StudioBackdrops says MSMEs will evolve from service providers to content-first businesses, where storytelling and production quality are central to growth.
“The past year has shown that even small enterprises can leverage high-quality visuals and audio to build credibility and reach wider audiences. There is also a rising expectation for localised support, access to affordable professional-grade tools, and guidance on maximising production value. Essentially, 2026 will be about empowering MSMEs to scale creatively and efficiently while reaching audiences/consumers.”
Industrial automation was among the fastest-evolving sectors in 2025. Strong capital expenditure, sustainability-led upgrades and widespread adoption of IIoT systems defined the year.
“The demand for smart, data-driven systems has never been more urgent,” says Bijal Sanghvi, Managing Director of Axis Solutions. AI-assisted diagnostics and cloud-connected instrumentation became essential rather than optional. “This wasn’t just about efficiency; it was about reimagining how Indian industries operate.”
Sanghvi expects 2026 to deepen this momentum, with digital twins, predictive maintenance, cybersecurity-first automation and energy-efficient instrumentation becoming the norm. “Industries will modernise faster due to sustainability pressures and global competitiveness,” he notes.
Axis Solutions’ own trajectory mirrors the sector’s rise. With its BSE listing in 2025 giving it growth tailwinds, the company is targeting 30–35 per cent expansion next year along with stronger R&D in green technologies.
Indian real estate saw one of its strongest years in a decade. Robust demand, improved GST structures and stronger infrastructure pipelines reshaped consumer preferences across metros and emerging cities.
According to Manish Jain, President of CREDAI Pune, the shift was unmistakable. Homebuyers, he says, increasingly gravitated toward “spacious, future-ready 2, 3 and 4 BHK configurations that balance lifestyle, work and wellbeing.” Integrated townships, that were once considered a niche, are now central to modern urban planning.
Jain highlights Pune’s extraordinary rise driven by metro expansion, the Purandar International Airport and new industrial corridors. “Pune’s blend of IT, culture, education and recreation has created a unique investment story,” he says, adding that this stability is a sign of maturing buyer sentiment.
He is optimistic about 2026. “I am confident the industry will scale new heights,”
battery swapping surged in 2025 on the back of mass EV adoption and government support. India witnesses over 30 million swaps, says Murthu Subhramanian, MD, YUMA Energy.
“Battery swapping evolved into mission-critical infrastructure, transforming last-mile mobility with refuel-like reliability, intelligent lifecycle management, and data-driven operations,”
Yuma expanded through real-time platforms like Satori and Nova, next-gen batteries, and used predictive diagnostics to achieve 99.8% network uptime.
“The ecosystem matured with chemistry-agnostic platforms, AI-led diagnostics, and strong momentum toward a circular battery economy, supported by clearer national policies and growing rider trust,”
“For 2026, we expect a watershed year marked by rapid electrification of last-mile fleets, interoperable high-density swap networks becoming mainstream, deeper OEM–infrastructure collaboration, and declining cost-per-swap through multi-life batteries,”
India’s maritime push gained extraordinary traction in 2025, with investment commitments reportedly crossing ₹12 lakh crore at Indian Maritime Week 2025.
For a sector long awaiting revival, the momentum was both symbolic and practical.
Vivek Merchant, Director at Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, calls 2025 “an inflection point”. Deeper collaborations, upgraded shipyards, emerging clusters and stronger engineering ecosystems marked the beginnings for global competitiveness.
He is cautiously optimistic about 2026. Shipbuilding, he notes, is highly sensitive to global supply chains, making policy responsiveness critical. Balancing India’s push for indigenisation with its reliance on imported components remains the key challenge.
To bridge this gap, SDHI is investing in a Maritime Cluster and Centre of Excellence to nurture talent and support ancillary industries. Merchant expects 2026 to bring more coordinated, strategic expansion across the value chain.
The shipping industry had a steady, constructive 2025. Data notes, major Indian ports handled ~855 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2024–25, up from 819 million tonnes in FY 2023–24, marking a 4.3% year-on-year growth.
Pushpank Kaushik, CEO & Head-Business Development, Jassper Shipping India says, “Indian ports handled higher cargo volumes, vessel turnaround improved, and global trade routes stabilised. It allowed us to support our principals and exporters with smoother port calls, faster stevedoring, and clearer cost planning. The government’s focus on digital documentation and coastal shipping also helped operations run faster,”
In 2026, he expects the sector to be more tech-driven and efficient. “The construction of new increased capacity ports, the establishment of improved port-hinterland connectivity and improved Digital Systems will allow faster and transparent vessel handling,” he projects.
“Sustainability requirements will also shape fleet choices and port infrastructure. 2026 will be about offering more value-added services, improving digital visibility, and supporting MSMEs with simpler, more reliable export solutions,” he adds.
With domestic travel at an all-time high, and rising tourism in Tier-2 and Tier-3 destinations, hotel occupancy hit some of its strongest post-pandemic numbers.
The year demanded, “effort, resilience and innovation” in equal measure, says Amit Raman, General Manager at Radisson Blu Pune Hinjawadi. Sustainability initiatives, staff upskills and digital transformation became mandatory for hotels seeking to serve a new generation of travellers.
Raman emphasises the growing popularity of personalised, experience-led stays which is a trend closely tied to India’s rising preference for homestays.
“Guests increasingly want the warmth and intimacy of a homestay,” he explains, “but with the professionalism and reliability of a hotel.” This blend, he believes, will become central in 2026.
For Raman, purposeful innovation is now the industry’s guiding principle. Technology, deeper personalisation and cultural authenticity will be the pillars of hospitality’s next chapter.
Healthcare continued its upward trajectory in 2025 as eye health and holistic wellness gained mainstream attention. Preventive care, once overshadowed by treatment-first approaches, finally received recognition.
Dr. Mandeep Singh Basu, Director of Dr Basu Group, says the rise in early interventions and lifestyle awareness was one of the year’s most positive trends. “People are beginning to recognise that healthy vision is not just about treatment — it starts with awareness and daily habits,” he says.
The launch of Mirasa Ayurveda by his group reflects this movement toward slow, mindful healing. Dr. Basu notes that Indians are increasingly seeking alternatives that help them build sustainable wellness routines rather than chase rapid, temporary fixes.
His focus for 2026 is accessibility and deeper integration. With expansions planned in Mumbai and stronger research initiatives, Dr. Basu hopes to make holistic eye-care solutions easier to access and more culturally intuitive. “Our purpose is simple,” he says. “To help people see life more clearly, naturally, and with awareness.”
In 2025, Indian education experienced a shift in mindset. The obsession with marks began to ease, replaced by curiosity, emotional wellbeing and real-world experience. Schools noticed a palpable shift among parents.
According to Anamika Dasgupta, Director at The Wonder School Pune, the year felt like “a return to our civilisational roots — where belonging, agency and community are central to learning.”
Parents increasingly recognised that “children thrive not in pressure but in environments that honour how they learn, not just what they score.”
Dasgupta expects 2026 to bring flexible pathways, hyper-local projects, and intergenerational mentorship into mainstream models. More schools may adopt her belief in “trusting a child’s inner drive” as the defining principle of the modern classroom.
Across all sectors, 2025 served as a time of foundation-building, introspection and clarity. The year ahead will demand more intentional growth, deeper technological integration, sharper design thinking and a renewed cultural confidence.
If 2025 gave India momentum, 2026 will test what the country can build with it.
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