India PE-VC funding falls 17% to $36B in 2025; consumer & retail flagged as 2026 priority sectors

Bain-IVCA report shows India private capital investments dropped to USD 36 billion across 1,700 deals in 2025, down 17% YoY despite a 10% rise in volumes. Investors expected to stay cautious into 2026, but consumer and retail remain priority domestic bets alongside manufacturing and financial services.

— Source publishedFri, 15 May, 2026, 15:36 IST·First seen Fri, 15 May, 2026, 15:39 IST·Source BL · Consumer & Economy

What happened

Bain & Company · Bain-IVCA report says India PE-VC investments fell 17% to USD 36B in 2025 and will stay cautious in 2026, with consumer and retail among

Key facts

  • USD 36 billion 2025 PE-VC
  • -17% YoY
  • 1,700 deals
  • +10% volume
  • USD 23M avg deal

Why this matters

With funding down 17% but consumer/retail flagged as priority, distressed or sub-scale retail targets may surface at more rational valuations through 2026.

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