Overview
- FICCI reported its manufacturing index at an all‑time high for Q3 FY26, with 91% of respondents posting higher or unchanged production and 86% expecting stronger or steady domestic orders.
- CII’s Business Confidence Index rose to 66.5 in Q3 FY26, the highest in five quarters and the third straight increase, reflecting optimism on demand, profitability, and investment conditions.
- Manufacturers indicated average capacity utilisation near 75%, steady expansion plans over the next six months, and improved hiring intentions, with 38% planning to add workers.
- Surveyed firms linked stronger sales pipelines to GST rate cuts and festive demand, with 56.3% expecting 5–20% sales growth, and 69% anticipating an RBI repo‑rate cut by end‑Q4 FY26.
- CII’s budget proposals include launching NIP 2.0 at about ₹150 lakh crore, creating an India Development and Strategic Fund, a ₹1,000 crore Digitisation Fund, and 10 advanced learning and research centres.