India’s top 100 brands surge to $523.5 billion, capturing 13% of national GDP: Report, ETBrandEquity
The combined value of India’s Top 100 most valuable brands has reached USD 523.5 billion in 2025, accounting for approximately 13 per cent of the nation’s GDP, according to the latest Kantar BrandZ report. The ranking, now expanded to 100 brands, reflects a six per cent year-on-year increase in total brand value, with 34 brands recording individual growth. These results underscore the growing significance of brand building in India’s economic narrative and highlight substantial opportunities for further global expansion.
HDFC Bank Retains Top Spot Amid Strong Digital Innovation
HDFC Bank has once again secured its position as India’s most valuable brand, with its value rising 18 per cent to nearly USD 45 billion. Since the inaugural Kantar BrandZ India report in 2014, the bank’s brand value has surged by 377 per cent. This sustained growth has been fueled by continuous innovation and technology investments, including the launch of “Vigil Aunty,” a superhero-style persona designed to educate users on financial fraud. HDFC’s strong digital focus continues to set the standard for brand leadership in the financial sector.
Top Ten Brands Dominate Nearly Half of Total Ranking Value
The top ten most valuable Indian brands contribute 47 per cent of the total ranking value. Following HDFC Bank, the top five include Tata Consultancy Services (USD 44.2 billion), Airtel (USD 41.1 billion), Infosys (USD 25.5 billion) and ICICI Bank (USD 20.6 billion). Other notable names in the Top 10 include State Bank of India, UltraTech Cement, Jio, HCL Tech and LIC.
New Entrants and Category Expansion
This year’s ranking welcomed 18 newcomers. UltraTech Cement entered at number seven with a valuation of USD 14.5 billion, becoming the first brand to be recognised in the newly added Materials category. The brand’s success is attributed to emotional storytelling and retail solutions that appeal to individual home builders. Retail and fashion brands Westside (No. 38, USD 3.3 billion) and Zudio (No. 52, USD 2.5 billion) also made their debut.
Fastest-Growing Brands Reflect Experience-Led Economy
Zomato was named the fastest-rising brand for the second consecutive year, climbing ten spots to No. 21 and increasing its brand value by 69 per cent to USD 6 billion. The brand’s expansion into lifestyle categories and integration of its dine-out platform, District by Zomato, has fueled this growth.
Travel and experience-focused brands also showed strong growth, with Taj Hotels (+55 per cent), IndiGo (+42 per cent) and MakeMyTrip (+45 per cent) posting significant gains. Automotive brand Mahindra grew by 53 per cent, driven by experience-led services such as off-roading adventures tailored to SUV enthusiasts.
Sectoral Strength and Differentiated Brand Building
The infrastructure boom in India is reflected in the inclusion of four cement brands in the Top 100: UltraTech Cement, Bangur Cement, Ambuja Cement and JK Cement. Meanwhile, brands like Airtel and MakeMyTrip are reshaping their categories through AI innovation, from secure payments to personalised travel planning.
The report also highlighted the power of meaningful differentiation: brands that have consistently ranked since 2019 delivered an extra 29 per cent growth by building both relevance and distinction. Standout examples include HDFC Bank’s innovation focus, Taj’s service excellence and Royal Enfield’s community-building initiatives such as the Motoverse event in Goa.
Soumya Mohanty, managing director and chief solutions officer, South Asia, Kantar, added, “Our analysis confirms that brands can outperform market conditions, even in the face of headwinds, when they are built on a foundation of deep consumer understanding. These resilient brands don’t just survive – they grow by staying closely aligned with evolving consumer needs and expectations.”
“In today’s landscape, understanding how consumers experience and interpret your brand is no longer optional, it’s a strategic imperative. Sustained measurement and actionable insights enable brands to forge stronger customer connections, maintain relevance and secure long-term competitive advantage,” Mohanty added.
Commenting on the results, Deepender Rana, executive managing director, South Asia, Kantar said, “While the overall brand value growth has slowed to six per cent, India’s ten fastest growing brands grew by an average of 42 per cent, which is an astounding seven times faster. This outperformance is largely due to investment in driving meaningful difference, innovating and staying close to the needs of the consumers. While there is pressure to push short term sales via performance marketing, Kantar’s BrandZ rankings are proof that marketers and board rooms alike can rest assured, knowing their investment in brand building delivers great shareholder returns.”
