15 August 2026 · 7 min read
What are you doing with your India?
India's 80th Independence Day and 79 years free. What happened that midnight, how one man made farmers owners, and what to build with it.
India Insight
Know India before you build.
The numbers, industries and history worth knowing to build here, a growing set of facts for founders. Free, no signup.
146 crore
People
1.46 billion · the world's most populous nation
6th
Largest economy
₹345 lakh crore (~$3.96T), just behind the UK
~7.6%
GDP growth / yr
The fastest-growing major economy
~29
Median age
One of the world's youngest workforces
102 crore
Internet users
About 1.02 billion · second-largest online population
2,300 crore
UPI payments / mo
About 23 billion transactions
130+
Unicorns
3rd-largest startup ecosystem
2.2 lakh
Recognised startups
DPIIT recognised, and counting
India's largest industries
By annual size, as published by India Brand Equity Foundation
Retail₹81.6 lakh crore $952B
IT & BPM₹27.9 lakh crore $315B
Metals & Mining₹26.3 lakh crore $311B
Textiles₹19.6 lakh crore $225B
Weddings₹11.3 lakh crore $130B
Pharmaceuticals₹5.2 lakh crore $60B
Largest employers
- 1Indian Armed ForcesActive personnel · 1.45 million14.5 lakh
- 2Indian RailwaysOne of the world's biggest employers · 1.18 million11.8 lakh
- 3Tata GroupAcross all companies · 1.16 million11.6 lakh
- 4Tata Consultancy ServicesIT services · 585,0005.9 lakh
- 5Reliance IndustriesConglomerate · 390,0003.9 lakh
Oldest companies still standing
- 1Wadia GroupShipbuilding to consumer goods1736
- 2State Bank of IndiaAs the Bank of Calcutta1806
- 3Tata GroupTrading, then steel and beyond1868
- 4DaburAyurveda and consumer goods1884
- 5BritanniaFood and biscuits1892
Worth reading
India-related essays from our blog
11 August 2026 · 7 min read
Plan your year on India's festival calendar
Diwali 2026 is 8 November. Why Indian festival dates move, the full 2026 calendar, and how to plan stock and spend backwards from each one. Costs ₹0.
8 August 2026 · 13 min read
What to sell in India: find the gaps people search
Not sure what to sell in India? Use free search data on Amazon and Google to find gaps people search for but cannot buy. Costs ₹0 and one evening.
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