Citing data from the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the Finance Minister said Diwali sales this year touched a record high of Rs 6.05 lakh crore.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman ( File Photo: ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has highlighted that GST rate cuts and strong demand for ‘swadeshi’ products have led to a surge in Diwali sales.
Citing data from the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the Finance Minister said Diwali sales this year touched a record high of Rs 6.05 lakh crore.
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The Finance Minister cited a statement of the Confederation of All India Traders, which estimated this year’s Diwali sales at Rs 5.4 lakh crore in goods and Rs 65,000 crore in services.
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According to the Research and Trade Development Society, the research wing of CAIT, this marks a 25% spike over the 2024 festive sales of Rs 4.25 lakh crore from the Navratri-to-Diwali period — the highest-ever festive sales in India’s trading history.
The survey showed that the mainline retail accounted for nearly 85% of total sales, indicating a strong revival of the brick-and-mortar market.
“During the period of Diwali shopping, e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms recorded a sharp increase in demand, with premium products and instant-delivery services driving growth, and festival spend extending beyond major cities,” the Finance Minister said.
The reduction in GST rates across key consumer and retail categories such as confectionery, home decor, footwear, ready-made garments, consumer durables, and daily use items significantly improved price competitiveness and increased purchase momentum.
Moreover, about 72% of surveyed traders reported higher sales volumes directly attributable to reduced GST.
According to the CAIT data, the Diwali trade surge is estimated to have generated temporary employment for nearly 50 lakh people across logistics, transport, retail assistance, packaging, and delivery.
Enhanced rural and semi-urban purchasing power contributed nearly 28% of overall sales, highlighting deep economic penetration beyond metros.
“Diwali 2025 has set a new benchmark in India’s retail and trading economy, symbolising the fusion of tradition, technology, and trust in Indian enterprise,” CAIT said, adding that this year’s Diwali stands as a major milestone in building an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The reduction in GST rates across key consumer and retail categories such as confectionery, home decor, footwear, ready-made garments, consumer durables, and daily-use items significantly improved price competitiveness and increased purchase momentum.
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