As the year draws to a close, 2025 stands out as a period of significant transition, resilience, and recalibration across industries and society at large. From navigating global economic uncertainties and accelerating digital transformation to advancing sustainability goals and redefining consumer expectations, the year has tested leadership and sharpened strategic priorities. In this backdrop, year-end reflections from industry leaders offer valuable perspective—capturing key learnings, achievements, and outlooks that will shape the road ahead in 2026.
Mr Sudhir Sitapati, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd: The outlook is quite positive. GDP growth seems good, and all the factors for consumption growth are in place. I am hopeful that in comparison to 2025, 2026 will see a lot of momentum in the FMCG sector. There’s rapid adoption of new categories happening in India. Pet care, for example, is very exciting—we have also entered this space. Fabric care liquids, perfumes, and deodorants are doing well, and many of these new categories are doing quite well. I am expecting demand outlook to be good on the back of both GST and income tax reduction. There is more money in consumers’ hands, so hopefully that will drive growth
Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder and Director Lenexis Foodworks: 2025 has been a year of sustained momentum for India’s QSR industry, fuelled by evolving consumer habits and a rising preference for value-driven, quality dining experiences. At Lenexis, we delivered 25%+ growth in orders over last year while improving margins, and expanded our footprint to 250+ outlets across 45+ cities, reinforcing the strong demand for Asian flavours delivered with speed, precision, and consistency.As we look ahead to 2026, our outlook remains highly optimistic. Consumers are becoming more experimental, more digitally connected, and more receptive to new formats. In response, we plan to deepen our presence in emerging markets and continue innovating across formats and menus to stay ahead of the curve
Mr. Kamal Nandi, Business Head and EVP – Appliances Business, Godrej Enterprises Group: This year the durables industry at large has been witnessing a relative slowdown in consumption driven by environmental and macroeconomic factors. The GST reduction on ACs was a big announcement for the industry. On one hand its early announcement in August slowed down the sales till festive, but on the other, it gave a boost at the onset of the festive sales.
The premiumization trend however continues with premium segments like frost free refrigerators, split air conditioners, front load washing machines performing better than mass segments. Consumers are largely looking for value driven offerings for more convenience and comfort. Aesthetics is another aspect that continues to gain consumer attention. Despite the degrowth seen in the industry, at Godrej, we have maintained double digit growth, leading with washing machines, followed by air conditioners and refrigerators. While the growth is highest in the 10L+ cities for refrigerators, for other categories like AC and Washing Machines, both large cities and rural markets have shown good growth. This comes at the back of a robust portfolio with advanced technologies aided by a combination of brand building efforts, network outreach and smartly crafted promotions. Currently, over half of Godrej’s portfolio is AI-powered. With the right mix of affordability, accessibility, and newer launches, we are confident of further strengthening our position in the market and expect over 20% growth at the end of the financial year.
Aditi Kumar, Joint Managing Director at TVS ILP: 2025 was a year of resilience and momentum for India’s industrial and logistics park sector, driven by strong leasing activity, rising institutional capital, and a clear shift toward Grade-A, technology-led, and sustainable infrastructure.
For TVS Industrial & Logistics Parks, the year was particularly meaningful as we completed 20 years since inception—a testament to the strength of our platform, disciplined execution, robust governance, and long-term vision. We marked a defining milestone with the listing of our InvIT, TVS Infrastructure Trust, on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). We also entered a MoU with the Government of Telangana to develop a technology-enabled logistics and industrial park, further strengthening our growth pipeline.
Amid a dynamic market environment, TVS ILP continued to outperform the broader industry, expanding our portfolio across central, eastern, and southern India. We deepened our capabilities in large-scale build-to-suit developments, customised infrastructure, EPC, and value-added services, supported by new client partnerships across automotive, FMCG/FMCD, and allied industrial sectors. As we look ahead, we are investing in state-of-the-art, technology-enabled facilities in high-potential markets such as Cuttack and Indore, reinforcing our commitment to scalable, future-ready infrastructure.Entering 2026, we remain focused on sustainable and inclusive growth, scaling customer-centric integrated infrastructure solutions, enabling skilled local employment, and contributing meaningfully to India’s next phase of industrialisation
Mr Pinkesh Kotecha, Chairman and Managing Director of Ishan Technologies: 2025 marked as a year where India’s digital ambitions became more grounded and more mature. Across enterprises and public institutions, the conversation shifted from what technology to adopt to how to build it responsibly and at scale. AI gained real traction under the India AI Mission, sovereign cloud adoption deepened, and digital infrastructure expanded beyond metros, especially with GCCs and businesses looking at Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as long-term growth hubs.
What stood out this year was a growing emphasis on foundations. As AI pilots moved closer to production and digital footprints widened, organisations began paying closer attention to data quality, network reliability, cybersecurity, and governance. The rollout of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act was an important milestone in this journey, it brought much-needed clarity around accountability, data ownership, and trust, influencing how cloud and digital platforms are designed and deployed.Building on the policy support and AI-led investments gained this year, the ecosystem is well-positioned to sustain momentum into the next phase of growth. As enterprises move beyond experimentation to operationalise AI, demand is shifting toward secure, compliant, and production-ready digital infrastructure. For ICT providers like Ishan Technologies, the opportunity lies in enabling AI at scale through sovereign cloud, resilient data centres, and strong cybersecurity, supporting GCC expansion and regulated sectors as they accelerate digital adoption.
Anjali Raghuvanshi, Chief People Officer – Randstad India & GCC, Senior Director – Business Innovation: As we step into 2026, the Indian employment landscape is undergoing its most profound shift in a decade. We are moving from a ‘Capacity Economy’—hiring for hands—to a ‘Capability Economy’—hiring for adaptability.
The future belongs to the ‘agile specialist.’ For employers, the mandate is clear: strategically rethink talent management. Build internal marketplaces that allow your people to flow to where the value is. For talent, my advice is to cultivate a ‘portfolio mindset.’ Security in 2026 comes not from a job title, but from the diversity of your skills and the speed at which you can unlearn and relearn. Ultimately, as AI becomes agentic and our labor laws become more agile, the most premium asset in 2026 will be human judgment. The organizations that win will be those that use these reforms to enhance not just efficiency but effectiveness and build a diverse, included, and high-velocity workforce.
Mr. Mukundan Menon, Managing Director, Voltas Ltd: India is at the cusp of a sustained growth journey, with our economy being one of the fastest growing major economies of the world. India’s economic growth, combined with low residential AC penetration (below 8%) and ongoing infrastructure development like metro rail, airports, manufacturing facilities, offices, healthcare, and hospitality, presents significant opportunities for our industry. Tier II & Tier III cities in India are also driving growth due to rapid urbanization & rising middle class incomes. Indian HVAC market is expected to reach $30 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 15-16%.
The Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative & PLI schemes are also driving, India’s HVAC equipment manufacturing story. This, in turn will create a pathway for us to export these products to a larger global audience and is a step towards our eventual global leadership in this space. India is also leading its way in terms of Standards for energy efficiency and sustainability which are the important themes when it comes to the Global stage.
The year 2025 presented unique challenges, marked by an early and prolonged monsoon, leading to industry de-growth compared to the previous year. However, the GST reduction on ACs from 28% to 18% effective September 22 provided a positive boost, driving recovery in the latter half of the fiscal year. The upcoming BEE star rating revision, effective Jan 1, 2026, is expected to further stimulate demand. Our refreshed BEE-compliant AC portfolio and continued manufacturing investments position us to lead this transition. Meanwhile, Voltas Beko appliances like refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers continue to gain traction across key categories, reinforcing our ambition to become a full stack appliance player. At Voltas, we are leading the transformation with our R&D innovation and world class manufacturing facilities. Innovation is not a one-time investment it’s a continuous cycle. When product, process, and digital reinforce each other, we create immense value for everyone. At Voltas, we are deeply committed to this journey. Our investments in indigenous manufacturing align with The Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and sustainability goals of our Prime Minister
Mr. Rakesh Jain, IndusInd General Insurance (formerly Reliance General Insurance): India’s general insurance industry recorded steady progress in 2025, with gross premiums reaching ₹3.08 trillion, a growth of 6.2%. However, penetration remains at around 1%, well below the global average, highlighting significant untapped potential. Health insurance continued to lead growth, driven by rising awareness, post-pandemic protection needs, and medical inflation.
Looking ahead, 2026 is expected to witness 8–13% growth, supported by deeper market penetration, stronger demand for health and commercial insurance, and increasing awareness. Technology will be the key enabler, with AI-led underwriting, telematics-based motor products, and platforms such as Bima Sugam enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and customer experience.
At the same time, rising fraud and cybersecurity risks make investments in advanced analytics and robust digital safeguards critical to preserving trust. Climate risks and recent GST reforms further underscore the need for innovative, affordable solutions. As we move into 2026, a digital-first, inclusive approach will be central to achieving sustainable growth and advancing the vision of ‘Insurance for All’.
Mr. Gaurav Pandey, MD & CEO, Godrej Properties Ltd: 2025 was a year of sustained growth for Indian real estate, driven by strong housing absorption, firm pricing, and the delivery of major infrastructure projects across key metros. Demand remained fundamentally end-user focused, supported by rising incomes and formal job creation, while consolidation accelerated as customers increasingly chose branded developers for transparency and execution certainty.
As we step into 2026, the sector is poised for stable, broad-based growth, underpinned by disciplined supply and a healthier demand–inventory balance. With multiple infrastructure projects nearing completion and urban employment drivers remaining robust, we expect momentum to continue anchored in genuine homeownership aspirations rather than speculative activity.
Debarshi Dutta, Co-Founder & CEO, Ayekart: 2025 marked a defining inflection point for India’s agricultural and food ecosystem. Technology has moved beyond being an add-on to becoming the core enabler of how the ecosystem operates. Across sourcing, processing, and distribution, data-led platforms and AI-driven insights are now central to reducing inefficiencies, improving planning, and driving transparency across a highly fragmented network.
This transformation is delivering real impact on the ground. FPOs are gaining greater visibility, farmers are accessing stronger market linkages, processors and brands are benefiting from more predictable sourcing, and the movement of goods is becoming more efficient. Together, these shifts signal the emergence of a mature, digitally connected farm-to-fork ecosystem.
As we look ahead to 2026, the opportunity before us is enormous. India’s agri-food future will be shaped by solutions that translate data into decisions, scale sustainably, and continue to build trust across stakeholders. At Ayekart, we remain committed to driving inclusive innovation, advancing solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, enable data-driven decision making, and ultimately create sustainable value for all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.
