India's services sector picks up in January: PMI
Business
India's services sector strengthened in January 2026 after December's soft expansion, as the PMI rose to 58.5.
Growth was supported by stronger output and rising new orders, though solid marketing kept demand strong.
Manufacturing also improved a little
While services strengthened, manufacturing actually picked up a little—its PMI edged up to 56.8.
When you combine both sectors, the composite PMI jumped higher than expected to 59.5, showing that India's broader economy is still moving forward.
Employment broadly stable in services
Employment was broadly stable in services while overall hiring resumed in January, which is good news for workers.
But companies are feeling the pinch from rising input costs—the highest in four months—so many had to hike prices just to keep profits on track.