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India marketingstatistics

The numbers behind Indian marketing, each one dated and sourced. Who this is for: Owners and marketers who need dated, sourced numbers for a plan or a pitch.

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Since 201565+ in-house teamKolkata office, 5 team bases

By , Founder & CEOPublished 4 Oct 20269 min read

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/ 01 The short answer

How big ismarketing in India?

India's advertising market was ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2025. That was up 13% in a year, according to the FICCI-EY media and entertainment report (March 2026).

Digital took ₹94,700 crore of that, nearly two-thirds. Linear TV advertising fell 10%, while print grew 2% and outdoor grew 13%.

PromotEdge starts every plan from numbers like these. It then narrows them to your buyers, your city, your budget.

This page collects the numbers people ask about most. How much is spent on each medium? How many people are online, and how many watch TV? How many radio stations and newspapers are there? How often do ads break the rules? Every figure names its source and date. So you can check it and quote it.

We update the page when a source publishes new data. FICCI-EY reports every March. The telecom regulator (TRAI) reports every month. The advertising watchdog (ASCI, the Advertising Standards Council of India) reports every May. IAMAI-Kantar reports every January. The "Updated" date changes only when a number changes.

Key takeaways
  • India's advertising market grew 13% to ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2025. That is about 0.41% of GDP (FICCI-EY, March 2026).
  • Digital advertising grew 26% to ₹94,700 crore, nearly two-thirds of all ad spend. Ads on e-commerce sites and at the point of sale grew 50% to ₹22,000 crore.
  • India had 1,010.28 million broadband subscriptions at the end of August 2026 (TRAI, 28 September 2026).
  • TV still reaches about 745 million people every week. Connected TVs reached about 40 million (FICCI-EY).
  • Of the ads India's advertising watchdog ASCI processed in 2024-25, 94.4% came from digital media. Also, 98% of the ads it scrutinised needed changes.
/ 02 Ad spend

Advertising in India by medium,2025

From the FICCI-EY media and entertainment report, press release of 24 March 2026. Growth is against 2024.

Measure2025 figureChange in a year
Total advertising₹1.5 lakh crore (₹1.5 trillion)+13%
Digital advertising₹94,700 crore (nearly two-thirds of the total)+26%
E-commerce and point-of-sale ads₹22,000 crore+50%
Linear TV advertisingnot stated in the release−10%
Print advertisingnot stated in the release+2%
Out-of-home (OOH) medianot stated in the release+13%
Radio (total revenue)₹2,300 crore−7%

Figures as of 24 Mar 2026.

Linear TV means channels watched through cable, DTH or antenna, not streamed on connected TVs.

How much does India spend on advertising?

₹1.5 lakh crore in 2025, according to FICCI-EY. That was 13% more than in 2024, and about 0.41% of India's GDP. The whole media and entertainment sector was ₹2.78 lakh crore, up 9%. This includes films, TV subscriptions, gaming and live events. FICCI-EY projects the sector will reach ₹3.3 lakh crore by 2028.

What share of advertising is digital?

Nearly two-thirds. Digital advertising grew 26% to ₹94,700 crore in 2025. Digital media as a whole crossed ₹1 lakh crore in revenue for the first time. It is now the largest part of the sector.

The fastest-growing piece is advertising on shopping sites and at the point of sale. An example is sponsored listings on marketplaces and quick-commerce apps. It grew 50% to ₹22,000 crore.

How many people in India are online?

MeasureFigureSource and date
Broadband subscriptions1,010.28 millionTRAI, end of August 2026 (press release of 28 September 2026)
Active internet users958 millionIAMAI and Kantar, Internet in India 2025 (released January 2026)
Rural share of active internet users57% (about 548 million)IAMAI and Kantar, as above
Users who have tried AI features (voice, image search, chatbots)44%IAMAI and Kantar, as above
Rural share of telephone subscriptions41.04%TRAI, end of August 2026

Subscriptions are not people. One person can hold two SIMs or a phone and a home connection. That is why TRAI's subscription count is higher than the count of active users.

How many people watch TV in India?

About 745 million people a week, according to FICCI-EY. Connected TVs rose to about 40 million in 2025 from 30 million in 2024. These are smart TVs that stream through internet apps. Paid video subscriptions reached 216 million, across 143 million households.

So TV is still the widest-reaching screen in India. But linear TV advertising fell 10% in 2025. Some of that money moved to connected TV and online video.

How many radio stations and newspapers are there?

  • Private FM: 390 operational private FM channels on 30 March 2026. This is according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) lists 395 active stations on its private FM rate card.
  • Akashvani (All India Radio): run by Prasar Bharati. It has stations across states, including many districts that have no private FM.
  • Print: 7,903 publications are on the government's CBC advertising panel. They range from big city dailies to small weeklies. Since November 2025 the government pays ₹59.68 per sq cm. This is for every 1 lakh copies a daily sells.
  • Radio revenue: ₹2,300 crore in 2025, down 7% (FICCI-EY).

Want to know what these media cost? See our guides to radio advertising cost, newspaper advertisement cost and TV advertising cost.

How many ads break the rules?

Many. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) looked into 9,599 complaints in 2024-25. It scrutinised 7,199 ads, according to its annual report (28 May 2025). 98% of the ads it scrutinised needed some change.

ASCI 2024-25Figure
Ads processed that came from digital media94.4%
From television2.6%
From print2.4%
Share of ads processed involving influencer violations14%
Influencer ads investigated1,015 (98% needed changes)
Most violative sectorsOffshore betting 43%, realty 24.9%, personal care 5.7%

For businesses, the lesson is simple to state. Claims in ads, especially online and by influencers, are watched closely. Disclose paid partnerships, and keep proof for every claim.

What do these numbers mean for your marketing budget?

  • Digital is where most money goes, but not all reach. TV still reaches about 745 million people a week. Print and outdoor are still growing.
  • Rural India is online. Most active internet users now live in rural areas. So regional language and mobile-first content matter.
  • Shopping-site ads are rising fast. If you sell on marketplaces or quick-commerce apps, plan for sponsored listings.
  • Compliance is part of the job. Most ad violations ASCI handles are online.
  • Measure against your own numbers. National growth rates are a backdrop. Your cost per enquiry and sales by channel decide where your next rupee goes.

Turning these numbers into a plan for one business is media planning. We plan across advertising and digital marketing, and judge every channel on enquiries and sales.

/ 03 Where we fit

How PromotEdge uses this data

We start every plan from numbers like these. We then narrow them to your buyers, your city, your budget.

National averages don't tell you where your buyers are. Your own numbers do, and that's where we start.

Want a plan built on your numbers? Ask for a growth plan.

Checked on 4 October 2026. We update each figure when its source publishes new data.

  • Ad spend, TV reach, connected TV, subscriptions: FICCI-EY Media & Entertainment report. EY press release of 24 March 2026 (2025 data).
  • Broadband subscriptions: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Press release 125/2026, 28 September 2026 (data to end of August 2026).
  • Active internet users: IAMAI and Kantar, Internet in India 2025 report (released January 2026). Figures are as reported in the trade press.
  • Ad complaints: Advertising Standards Council of India. Annual Complaints Report 2024-25, press release of 28 May 2025.
  • FM channels: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Operational private FM channels as on 30 March 2026. Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), private FM rate card, viewed 4 October 2026.
  • Print panel and rates: CBC, Publishers on Panel, viewed 4 October 2026. Press Information Bureau, 17 November 2025.

Our beliefWe start with logic and your numbers, not with ideas we happen to like.

What people say

In their own words

What clients told us after working with PromotEdge.

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Bimal ShahBimal ShahExecutive Director at Fine Organic Industries Limited
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Medha SharmaMedha SharmaStrategic Head at TATA Metaliks
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Bobby SrinivasBobby SrinivasChief Manager Marketing & Brand Marketing at Utkarsh India
“We are thoroughly impressed with the extensive knowledge and professionalism demonstrated by PromotEdge. Their adept management of our digital and creative requirements has significantly contributed to our satisfaction with their digital marketing services and expertise.”
Rahul MishraRahul MishraAssistant Manager Digital Marketing & Ecommerce at Magik Lighting
“We have been working with PromotEdge for almost a year. We have engaged them to manage our Digital marketing campaigns and are impressed with the outcome. …”
Shubham GadodiaShubham GadodiaDeputy Brand Manager at Shyam Metalics Group
“I really want to thank Sayantan and his team from PromotEdge because what I find good in them is that, the team. When the team is wonderful, the outcome will definitely be wonderful. …”
Abhijit BhattacharyaAbhijit BhattacharyaFormer Captain Indian VolleyBall Team; and Founder of Brahmaputra Volleyball League
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Harsh GuptaHarsh GuptaManaging Director at Rishta Foods
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Joy BhattacharjyaJoy BhattacharjyaCEO at Prime Volleyball League
“I am delighted with the successful launch of our new website, thanks to the exceptional support from PromotEdge. …”
Mom MitraMom MitraMarketing Head at Ilead
“I commend PromotEdge as a content and advertising partner. I applaud their top-notch team, swift problem-solving, and outstanding digital media work for my brand. I express my happiness and eagerness for a long-term partnership.”
Priyanka GuptaPriyanka GuptaDirector at Nitya Gold & Diamonds
“PRAN & PromotEdge have been working together for last 1.5 years. Throughout, the work experience is good and satisfactory. As a client, we found PromotEdge very professional and dedicated towards any project assigned to them. …”
Sharif Rezwan KabirSharif Rezwan KabirBrand Manager at PRAN RFL Group
“As a progressive and emerging digital marketing company, PromotEdge is doing something right to enhance the experience of companies associated with them. …”
Anish Basu MallikAnish Basu MallikMarketing Executive at Unimark Group
“Hi, my name is Hitesh Malhotra. I'm working in FIVB. We are working with PromoteEdge (with Team Sayantan). I would like to give you a brief detail. …”
Hitesh MalhotraHitesh MalhotraSports Development at Fédération Internationale de Volleyball - FIVB
“Working with PromotEdge has been an enriching experience for ABP at many different levels. Your understanding of the digital space, customized brand solutions and prompt servicing have helped us achieve our brand goals with so much ease. …”
Satabdi SahuSatabdi SahuLead - Brand and Content at ABP Education
“The PromotEdge Agency stay with us all these 3 days, since when we arrived..more, more than 3 days. Since in the airport, they stayed together with us (FIVB team). …”
GibaGibaBrazilian Former Volleyball Player
“In the city of Kolkata , there are very few full service advertising agencies which are compact, agile, quick and yet have the vision and creative /executional abilities of large reputed agencies. …”
Hardeep SinghHardeep SinghMarketing ConsultantIndependent view
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Straight answers.

  • Advertising in India reached ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2025, up 13% from 2024. This is according to the FICCI-EY media and entertainment report of March 2026. Figures like this are estimates made by the report's authors, so quote the source and the year when you use them, and check the report for later updates.

  • Nearly two-thirds. Digital advertising was ₹94,700 crore of the ₹1.5 lakh crore total in 2025, according to the FICCI-EY report of March 2026. That makes digital the largest single medium. The rest is split across TV, print, out-of-home, radio and other media, which are covered on this page.

  • IAMAI and Kantar count 958 million active internet users in a report released in January 2026. TRAI counts 1,010.28 million broadband subscriptions at the end of August 2026. One person can hold more than one subscription, so the two numbers measure different things and should not be added or compared directly.

  • About 745 million people watch TV in a week, according to FICCI-EY. Connected TVs, which are smart TVs that stream through internet apps, reached about 40 million in 2025. They measure different things, so check the report's definitions before you quote either number in a plan or a pitch.

  • There were 390 operational private FM channels on 30 March 2026, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Akashvani's own stations are extra, and they are not in this count. If you plan radio, check which cities have private stations, because channels are licensed city by city.

  • Slowly. Print advertising grew 2% in 2025, according to FICCI-EY. Linear TV advertising, which means ads on regular broadcast channels, fell 10% in the same year. Print is not shrinking in this report, but its growth is small, so judge any print plan on the enquiries it brings, not on habit.