India is entering a phase where macroeconomic stability is expected to give way to a broader, more diversified growth cycle, with new sectors reshaping productivity and regional development, according
to a new outlook report released by Dun & Bradstreet.
In its ‘India 2026: D&B’s Perspective’ report released on Thursday, the global business decisioning and analytics firm projected India’s GDP growth at around 6.6% by FY2027. The report highlights that while consumption and public investment remain key drivers, the next leg of expansion will be powered by emerging growth engines ranging from the digital economy and artificial intelligence to the silver economy, green ports, and quick commerce.
The report emphasised that India’s next wave will be supported by new avenues of growth, where digitised logistics, trusted data, clean energy, and city vitality rewire productivity.
According to the report, India’s growth momentum remains intact, supported by resilient consumer demand and sustained government-led capital expenditure. However, the focus is increasingly shifting from scale-driven expansion to productivity-led growth, enabled by digitised logistics, clean energy, trusted data systems, and improved city-level vitality.
Manufacturing, in particular, is undergoing a structural transformation. Dun & Bradstreet noted that the sector is moving beyond volume-led growth to technology-intensive value creation, with a strong semiconductor project pipeline expected to accelerate this transition in 2026. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are emerging as key beneficiaries, attracting investments and talent as advanced manufacturing and semiconductor projects stimulate local economies—a trend tracked through the firm’s City Vitality Index.
The report also flags several non-traditional sectors as future growth frontiers. Tourism, the blue economy, quick commerce, and the silver economy are expected to emerge as important contributors, especially across states and smaller cities. Travel patterns are evolving, with wellness, spiritual, and experiential tourism gaining prominence. Spiritual tourism already accounts for about 60% of domestic trips, a share that is expected to rise further through 2026.
Initiatives such as the Digital Tourism Mission are expected to play a catalytic role, enabling augmented and virtual reality-based itinerary planning, while the expansion of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) infrastructure in metros and Tier-2 cities is likely to strengthen high-value tourism segments.
On the digital front, Dun & Bradstreet estimates that India’s digital economy could grow at nearly twice the pace of the overall economy, accounting for close to 20% of gross value added by 2030. Artificial intelligence adoption is expected to scale rapidly across sectors such as banking and financial services, manufacturing, and healthcare, with the potential to add nearly $600 billion to India’s GDP over the next decade. Cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad are increasingly positioning themselves as major data centre hubs, reinforcing India’s role in global digital infrastructure.
Logistics and commerce are also set for disruption. The anticipated rollout of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) regulations in 2026 is expected to unlock large-scale commercial drone operations. Successful pilot projects in medical supplies and essential goods delivery point to drones becoming a key component of last-mile logistics. At the same time, the rapid rise in digital payments continues to underpin quick commerce growth, with UPI transaction volumes having increased by about 41.7% year-on-year in FY2025—a momentum the report expects to strengthen further in 2026.
Healthcare and senior care form another major theme in the outlook. As India’s population ages, the silver economy is moving into the mainstream. By 2050, India’s senior population is projected to reach 347.2 million, or roughly one-fifth of the total population, opening up large opportunities in health-tech, assisted living, and senior housing. Southern cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore, and Bengaluru are leading the development of senior living communities, while premium assisted living is gaining traction in Delhi-NCR and Pune.
The report also underscores the growing importance of the blue economy and sustainable maritime infrastructure. India’s maritime trade volume is expected to cross 7,100 million metric tonnes per annum by 2047, driven by both container and non-container cargo. Under the Harit Sagar (Green Port Guidelines) initiative, green measures such as shore power, hydrogen and ammonia bunkering, and port retrofitting are expected to gather pace in 2026, signalling a transition toward cleaner maritime operations.
Commenting on the findings, Arun Singh, Global Chief Economist at Dun & Bradstreet, said, “India’s 2026 outlook marks a turning point. With macro stability as a foundation, and GDP growth projected at 6.6% in FY2027, the country is poised to accelerate investments in productivity, technology, and clean energy.” He added, “Emerging sectors like AI, green ports, quick commerce and the silver economy will not only enhance competitiveness but also create inclusive growth opportunities across regions and industries.”
However, Singh cautioned that execution will be critical. “The challenge lies in disciplined execution — crowding in private capital, strengthening human capital, and leveraging policy support will be essential to converting stability into sustainable transformation,” he said.
