Swadeshi Push, GST Cuts Drive Record Diwali Sales

India’s Diwali sales this year hit an all-time high of ₹5.4 trillion in goods, a 25% jump from last year, with services adding another ₹65,000 crore, according to CAIT. The surge was driven by the Prime Minister’s call for a “Swadeshi Diwali” and GST rate rationalisation on key consumer products. Nearly 87% of consumers preferred Indian-made goods, while rural and semi-urban India contributed 28% of total trade. The festive economy also created 5 million temporary jobs across logistics, retail, and packaging, underscoring strong domestic demand and wider economic participation beyond urban markets.