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Business India News Updated Oct 29, 2026

13 of 19 India services sub-sectors post double-digit growth in August

India's services sector saw 13 of its 19 sub-sectors record double-digit growth in August, according to the National Statistics Office. Retail trade led the expansion at 19.9 per cent, while air transport was the weak spot, contracting 9.6 per cent for a fourth consecutive month. The figures mark an improvement over July, when only 10 sub-sectors posted double-digit growth.

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13 of 19 services sub-sectors in India's economy clock double-digit growth in Aug

New Delhi, Oct 29

As many as 13 of the 19 services sub-sectors of the Indian economy recorded a robust double-digit growth in August this year, compared to the same month of the previous year, according to the Index of Services Production with base year 2024-25, released by the National Statistics Office on Thursday.

This was an improvement over July when 10 of the 19 sub-sectors recorded double-digit growth.

Retail trade was the fastest-growing segment with an increase of 19.9 per cent in August this year compared to August 2025, up from 18.5 per cent in June.

The real estate sector accelerated to 17.6 per cent during the month from 14.4 per cent in July. Repair services also recorded a 17.6 per cent increase in August. The insurance sector recorded a 16.5 per cent growth while banking services shot up by 14.9 per cent in August compared to 12.3 per cent in July, reflecting the higher level of economic activity, according to official data.

Scientific and technical services including R&D also recorded a robust growth of 14.2 per cent growth during August compared to the same month of the previous year. Postal and courier services registered a strong 13.2 per cent growth while telecommunications also clocked a robust double-digit growth of 11.8 per cent during August, compared to the same month of the previous year.

Road transport registered a strong growth of 9.4 per cent during the month on the back of the fast-expanding highways segment. Similarly, water transport also grew 9.5 per cent during August compared to the same month last year.

However, air transport contracted by 9.6 per cent in August this year compared to August 2025. This was the fourth consecutive month of contraction for air travel as the widening Middle East conflict and the continuing closure of Pakistan's air space for Indian airliners adversely impacted the international operations. The decline widened from 8.4 per cent in July, the figures showed.

Accommodation and food recorded an 11.9 per cent growth which was lower than 12.6 per cent in July. The growth in IT and computer-related services accelerated to 13.8 per cent in August, up from 10.7 per cent in July.

Warehousing and support activities for transportation clocked an 11 .2 per cent growth during the month, up from 9.8 per cent in July.

Administrative and support services which was the fastest-growing segment with an increase of 20.9 per cent in July slowed to 13.1 per cent in August even as they stayed in the high growth double-digit zone.

Transport segments other than aviation posted a faster growth during the month. Railway transport growth more than doubled to 7.5 per cent, postal and courier services quickened to 8.7 per cent and water transport rose to 7.7 per cent.

In index terms, accommodation and food stood highest at 148.2, followed by retail trade at 122 and road transport services at 116.8 with repair services in the third spot at 114.7.

— IANS

Reader’s Guide · AI-assisted, based only on the report above

What the report makes clear: Official NSO data shows broad-based services growth in August, with retail, real estate and banking expanding while air transport shrank.

Still open: The report does not yet say what drove the air transport contraction beyond Middle East conflict and Pakistan airspace closure, or the full index values.

Another way to look at it: Strong services growth alongside a four-month aviation slump suggests domestic demand is holding up even as international travel links stay strained.

Which services sector do you think will drive India's growth next quarter?

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