MUMBAI: India’s advertising industry is on track for another year of robust expansion, with new projections from Magna forecasting total ad spend to reach Rs1.37 lakh crore in 2025—a healthy 7.8 percent jump over last year. The near-Rs 10,000 crore increase keeps India among the world’s fastest-growing major ad markets, despite global economic headwinds.

Digital platforms are driving the surge. Magna’s report estimates digital will account for more than 44 percent of all ad spends in 2025, fuelled by rapid growth in video, social, and e-commerce advertising. While TV will retain a major share of budgets, its growth is expected to be steadier as Indian audiences increasingly split their time across screens.

Several factors are credited with powering the upward trend: brands are doubling down on digital campaigns, key state elections and a rebound in consumer sentiment are boosting traditional and online ad activity, and high-growth sectors like FMCG, e-commerce, fintech, and automotive are leading the way in campaign spending. This momentum is helping offset continued sluggishness in categories such as real estate and durables.

Industry leaders highlight that India’s unique demographics, rapid smartphone adoption, and expanding high-speed internet access are the underlying forces reshaping the ad landscape. For marketers, the direction is clear: digital is the growth engine, but television and outdoor continue to deliver reach at a scale few other media can match.

The upbeat outlook for 2025 follows a strong recovery in 2024, as ad spending rebounded from pandemic-era disruptions. With the market now set to break fresh records, India’s advertising ecosystem is poised for another year of innovation—redefining how brands connect with consumers nationwide.