India’s manufacturing sector showed a modest yet notable improvement in January, with the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 55.4. The indicator previously stood at 55.0 in January 2026, signaling an incremental strengthening in operating conditions for manufacturers.
A PMI reading above 50 points to expansion in the sector, and the uptick from 55.0 to 55.4 suggests that growth momentum in Indian manufacturing has become slightly more robust. While the change is not dramatic, it indicates continued resilience in production and demand at the start of the year.
The updated data, released on 2 February 2026, will be closely watched by investors and policymakers as a barometer of the health of India’s industrial base and a key input into expectations for broader economic performance in 2026.
