The Indian advertising market size reached INR 908.6 Billion in 2024. The market is expected to reach INR 2,118.8 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 9.37% during 2025-2033. The market growth is attributed to the growing adoption of advertising to enhance brand awareness, increasing number of media and entertainment models, and rising demand for digital advertising solutions.
Advertising refers to a marketing strategy that is designed to promote a product, service, or cause. It comprises various forms of advertising, such as television, print, radio, internet or online, mobile, and outdoor. It acts as an introduction to a product and can be considered an effective way to increase brand awareness among individuals. It is inexpensive, convenient, eliminates middlemen, and assists in easy tracking of consumer behavior. It benefits in attracting a wide consumer base, increasing sales volume and rate of investment (ROI) of a business, and expanding business reach. It assists in educating businesses to consumers, supporting salesmanship, and creating employment opportunities. It aids in increasing the engagement of customers towards the business by offering information about the product and improving their decision-making. Besides this, it encourages various businesses to stay in competition with other companies. Further, these factors are contributing to the Indian advertising market demand. Also, advertising can be employed in roadside billboards, websites, street furniture, email and print newsletters, event bulletins, airport kiosks, and product packaging in India.
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Growing Adoption of Advertising
At present, the rising adoption of advertising by various companies to increase customer retention and attract new buyers represents one of the key factors supporting the growth of the market in India. Besides this, the growing adoption of advertising to enhance brand awareness and loyalty of a business is offering a positive market outlook in the country. Additionally, there is a rise in the need for convenient and cost-effective advertising solutions among the masses. This, coupled with the increasing demand for digital advertising due to the rapid adoption of smartphones and smart devices with the ease of internet facilities, is propelling the Indian advertising market growth. Apart from this, the rising trend of advertising through various sports events is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors in India. Moreover, the increasing consumer preference towards online shopping, along with the burgeoning e-commerce industry, is positively influencing the market. In addition, various advertising agencies are rapidly investing in digital advertising in the country, which is contributing to the growth of the market. Furthermore, the rising number of media and entertainment models is strengthening the market growth in India.
Increasing Government Support
Government policies and public-sector initiatives play a pivotal role in shaping the Indian advertising industry. Over the past decade, strategic campaigns such as "Digital India," "Make in India," and "Startup India" have not only increased government advertising spend but also stimulated broader market activity by encouraging entrepreneurship and digital literacy. The expansion of rural connectivity and affordable internet access has created new target audiences, prompting brands to invest in regional content and multilingual campaigns. Additionally, state and central governments continue to be among the largest advertisers in India, particularly during elections and public health drives, contributing significantly to revenue for media agencies and broadcasters. Regulatory developments aimed at data privacy and digital platform accountability are also shaping industry practices, ensuring greater transparency in ad spending and targeting. These measures have improved advertiser confidence, while policy-linked public awareness programs continue to offer predictable demand for advertising services year-round.
Digital OOH Adoption Accelerating with AR/VR and Interactive Displays
India's out-of-home (OOH) advertising sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rapid integration of digital technologies. Traditional billboards are steadily being replaced by digital out-of-home (DOOH) formats in urban centers, transportation hubs, and retail environments. The adoption of interactive and immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and touch-enabled displays is creating engaging consumer experiences that go beyond static messaging, which is significantly contributing to the India advertising market growth 2025. Brands are using location-based targeting and real-time data analytics to tailor content by time of day, demographic movement, and environmental conditions. This dynamic capability enhances relevance and maximizes impact. The scalability of digital screens also supports rapid campaign changes, benefiting sectors like FMCG, retail, and entertainment. Moreover, DOOH infrastructure is increasingly integrated with programmatic advertising platforms, allowing for more efficient inventory management. As cities modernize, the convergence of smart technologies and advertising is reshaping how brands interact with consumers in public spaces. This trend is also augmenting the Indian advertising market share.
Guarding Against Pricing Manipulation in Agency Pitches
Pricing manipulation in agency pitches is an emerging concern in the advertising sector, prompting brands to reevaluate their procurement and vetting practices. For instance, on May 23, 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) revealed that leading global advertising agencies had allegedly colluded to fix commission fees charged to advertisers through coordinated WhatsApp chats and virtual meetings. According to a confidential CCI document dated February 7, 2025, three separate cartels operated via industry bodies such as the AAAI, ISA, and IBDF, engaging in price coordination, sensitive information exchange, and enforcing punitive measures on non-compliant members. The investigation, which followed surprise raids in March triggered by a whistle-blower complaint under India's leniency program, is ongoing and could significantly impact pricing practices in the country. To protect against pricing manipulation during agency pitches, brands should implement a structured and transparent procurement process. This includes establishing standardized proposal formats, clear evaluation criteria, and independent oversight committees to ensure fair comparison among agencies. Engaging third-party auditors or consultants to review submitted bids can also help detect patterns of collusion or artificial price inflation. Moreover, brands should mandate disclosures of any industry associations or collaborative relationships agencies may have with competitors. The trend signals a broader movement towards ethical procurement and fiduciary accountability in Indian advertising.
Opportunities and Challenges in the Market
The India advertising landscape offers a vibrant blend of challenges and opportunities influenced by fast-paced digitization, policy changes, and changing consumer attitudes. The market is seeing the growth in internet penetration, smartphone usage, which is propelling digital advertising in tier II and III cities. Marketers are also using influencer marketing, augmented reality (AR), and programmatic buying to make campaigns more personalized and trackable. Furthermore, government support in the form of programs such as Digital India and transparency guidelines is facilitating formalization in the industry. However, as per the Indian advertising market analysis, the industry also has substantive challenges. Media fragmentation, data privacy issues, and a lack of uniform measurement standards make campaign effectiveness and tracking ROI difficult. Conventional media still struggles with declining viewership, whereas digital media must fight ad fraud and brand safety concerns. Also, price transparency in agency-client relationships and the absence of skilled digital talent constitute operational chokepoints. Operating through these complexities results in strategic innovation, regulatory alignment, and ongoing capability building among stakeholders.
IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the Indian advertising market report, along with forecasts for the period 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on segments.
Segment Insights:
The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the Indian advertising market based on segment. This includes television advertising, print advertising (newspaper and magazines), radio advertising, internet/online advertising, mobile advertising, outdoor advertising (bill boards, street furniture, transit advertising, and other mediums). According to the report, television advertising represented the largest segment.
The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the Indian advertising market. Competitive analysis such as market structure, market share by key players, player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided. Some of the companies covered include:
Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.
Report Features | Details |
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Base Year of the Analysis | 2024 |
Historical Period | 2019-2024 |
Forecast Period | 2025-2033 |
Units | INR Billion |
Segments Covered |
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Companies Covered | DDB Mudra Group, Dentsu India, FCB Worldwide, Inc, Leo Burnett India, McCann Worldgroup, MullenLowe, Ogilvy India, Rediffusion, WPP Media, etc. |
Customization Scope | 10% Free Customization |
Post-Sale Analyst Support | 10-12 Weeks |
Delivery Format | PDF and Excel through Email (We can also provide the editable version of the report in PPT/Word format on special request) |
Key Benefits for Stakeholders:
The Indian advertising market was valued at INR 908.6 Billion in 2024.
We expect the Indian advertising market to exhibit a CAGR of 9.37% during 2025-2033.
The increasing penetration of smartphones, coupled with the rising utilization of digital advertising among numerous organizations for creating a strong brand-image, is primarily driving the Indian advertising market.
The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the growing adoption of online advertising over billboards by several end-use industries across the nation, to remotely promote their products and services.
Based on the segments, the Indian advertising market can be segmented into television, print, radio, internet/online, mobile, and outdoor. Currently, television advertising holds the majority of the total market share.
Some of the major players in the Indian advertising market include DDB Mudra Group, Dentsu India, FCB Worldwide, Inc, Leo Burnett India, McCann Worldgroup, MullenLowe, Ogilvy India, Rediffusion, WPP Media, etc.