AI-enabled growth and governance emerge as drivers of India's US$1.9 trillion consumer economy: Deloitte India-FICCI report

New Delhi, 4 August 2026: India’s consumer economy is being reshaped by the convergence of changing consumer expectations, rapid technological advancement and an evolving business environment. Deloitte India and FICCI have unveiled their report, Consumer trends IGNITEing growth and governance, which examines how these shifts are creating new imperatives for growth, innovation and trust across India’s FMCG, retail and e-commerce sectors. 

Across FMCG, retail and e-commerce, the report points to a significant shift in how businesses are building for growth. Supply chains, traditionally optimised for efficiency, are increasingly being re-engineered for resilience through investments in intelligent planning, predictive forecasting and diversified sourcing models. At the same time, the rapid expansion of quick commerce, omnichannel retail and creator-led ecosystems is blurring traditional channel boundaries and reshaping how consumers discover, evaluate and purchase products.

The report also highlights the growing importance of governance in enabling this transformation. As businesses navigate developments across data privacy, AI governance, sustainability, product quality and consumer protection, compliance is increasingly becoming embedded into business strategy rather than operating as a standalone function. Combined with ongoing efforts to strengthen Ease of Doing Business, these shifts are helping create a more predictable environment for innovation, investment and long-term growth. 

The report highlights six structural trends that are shaping India’s consumer sector: 

• The new Indian consumer: Consumer preferences are shifting from price-led to transparency-led decisions, with 74 percent of consumers reviewing ingredient or nutritional information before purchase, 63 percent choosing products based on formulations and ingredients and 52 percent switching brands for better health and transparency credentials.
• Supply chains become a strategic business capability: As businesses navigate demand volatility, geopolitical disruptions and climate-related risks, supply chains are evolving from a focus on efficiency to resilience, supported by investments in intelligent planning, AI-enabled forecasting and network optimisation.
• AI moves to the core of business operations: India ranks first among the top 15 countries in AI adoption, as organisations increasingly deploy AI across consumer engagement, product innovation, demand forecasting and supply chain management to drive productivity and growth.
• Rise of a new commerce ecosystem: Commerce is becoming increasingly instant, seamless and personalised, with India’s e-commerce market projected to reach nearly US$260 billion by 2030 and quick commerce expected to grow to US$50 billion, reshaping consumer discovery, fulfilment and engagement.
• Governance and sustainability as competitive advantages: Sustainability is becoming more deeply integrated into business strategy, with 67 percent of consumers considering sustainability when making purchase decisions, while evolving frameworks around data privacy, AI governance, product quality and consumer protection are reinforcing trust and accountability across the sector.
• Indian consumer brands go global: Strengthened manufacturing capabilities, expanding cross-border commerce and India’s ambition to achieve US$200 billion in e-commerce exports by 2030 are enabling Indian brands to strengthen their global presence.