--- title: "India's services sector shows broad growth in August" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/indias-services-sector-shows-broad-growth-in-august" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/indias-services-sector-shows-broad-growth-in-august" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/indias-services-sector-shows-broad-growth-in-august.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/indias-services-sector-shows-broad-growth-in-august" category: "Business & Economy" area: "India" published: "2026-10-29T15:45:37.487Z" source_reported: "2026-10-29T14:56:22.000Z" updated: "2026-10-29T15:45:37.487Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 85 hype_score: 12 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-29T15:45:13.544335+00:00" --- # India's services sector shows broad growth in August *New Index of Services Production data reveals widespread expansion across 17 of 19 sub-sectors.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust high (86) due to ministry source, official data, multiple independent outlets, specific figures and dates. - Craft 85 of 100, higher is better. Critic score 85; article explains significance, separates data from comment, gives specifics and next steps. - Hype 12 of 100, lower is better. Hype low (12); language factual, no sensationalism, headline matches content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Seventeen of India's 19 services sub-sectors grew in August 2026, with 13 achieving double-digit expansion, according to the new trial Index of Services Production (ISP). - Retail trade led growth at 19.9% year-on-year, followed by real estate and repair services at 17.6%. - Air transport services contracted by 9.6%, and arts, entertainment, and recreational services declined by 4.7%. - The ISP is a new monthly gauge designed to provide timely data on the services sector, which accounts for over half of India's economy. India's services sector activity showed broad-based growth in August 2026, with 17 of the 19 sub-sectors recording expansion. Thirteen of these sub-sectors posted double-digit year-on-year increases, indicating sustained momentum. This data comes from the Centre's fifth trial Index of Services Production (ISP), a new monthly gauge of activity in a sector that contributes more than half of India's economy. The overall ISP is planned for release after further validation of the sub-sectoral data. Among the top-performing sub-sectors were retail trade, which grew by 19.9%, real estate and repair services, both at 17.6%, and insurance at 16.5%. Banking services saw 14.9% growth, while professional, scientific, and technical services, including research and development, expanded by 14.2%. IT and computer-related services grew by 13.8%, and postal and courier services by 13.2%. Two sub-sectors recorded contractions. Air transport services declined by 9.6%, attributed by Live Mint to rising energy prices from the West Asia war. Arts, entertainment, and recreational services also remained in negative territory, contracting by 4.7%. Other transport services, including railways, roadways, and waterways, showed single-digit growth. ## Disagreement on growth figures Live Mint and Devdiscourse report that 17 of the 19 services sub-sectors recorded growth. Moneycontrol notes that 17 of the 19 services sub-sectors recorded year-on-year growth. Digests from The Hindu Business Line, Latestly, and aninews.in state that 13 of the 19 services sub-sectors recorded double-digit growth. Live Mint also reports that 13 sub-sectors posted double-digit increases. Devdiscourse states that 18 of the 19 services sub-sectors covered by the index showed positive year-on-year growth. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre or right-rated reports below mention the overall ISP growth figure of 14.0% for August 2026, which D.K. Srivastava, chief policy advisor, EY India, cited in the Live Mint report. The centre and right-rated reports also did not include the commentary from Pranjal Ghate, economist, Brickwork Ratings, who stated that the August ISP figures point to resilient domestic demand supporting services activity. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 33% (2) - Right: 67% (4) 3 of 9 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-29T15:45:13.544335+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-29T16:00:23.169Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from Live Mint and Devdiscourse led with the broad-based growth across services sub-sectors. Live Mint reported that 17 of the 19 sub-sectors recorded growth, with 13 posting double-digit increases, indicating sustained momentum. Devdiscourse highlighted that retail trade led services output growth at 19.9% in August, while air transport contracted. Both reports detailed specific growth figures for multiple sub-sectors, including retail trade, real estate, and banking, and noted the contractions in air transport and arts, entertainment, and recreation services. ### Right - The right-rated reports from The Hindu Business Line, Latestly, aninews.in, and Moneycontrol focused on the number of sub-sectors achieving double-digit growth and the leading growth figures. The Hindu Business Line's digest stated that 13 of 19 sub-services sectors clocked double-digit growth in August, listing retail trade (19.9%), real estate (17.6%), and repair services (17.6%) as top performers. Latestly and aninews.in also reported retail trade leading growth at 19.9% and noted the contraction in air transport. Moneycontrol's digest stated that 17 of the 19 services sub-sectors recorded year-on-year growth, with retail trade, repair services, and real estate leading expansion, and that air transport and entertainment services were the only sectors to contract. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 4 - high: 1 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Hindu Business Line](https://thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-economy/13-of-19-sub-services-sector-clocked-double-digit-growth-in-august/article71641245.ece) — 13 of 19 sub-services sector clocked double digit growth in August - [Live Mint](https://livemint.com/news/india/trial-index-of-services-production-shows-sustained-momentum-in-august-11793272465827.html) — Trial Index of Services Production shows sustained momentum in August - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/business/3998928-retail-trade-leads-services-output-growth-at-199-in-august-air-transport-contracts-mospi) — Retail trade leads services output growth at 19.9% in August, air transport contracts: MoSPI - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/agency-news/business-news-retail-trade-leads-services-output-growth-at-19-9-in-august-air-transport-contracts-mospi-7661041.html) — Retail Trade Leads Services Output Growth at 19.9% in August, Air Transport Contracts: MoSPI - [aninews.in](https://aninews.in/news/business/retail-trade-leads-services-output-growth-at-199-in-august-air-transport-contracts-mospi20261029174652) — Retail trade leads services output growth at 19.9% in August, air transport contracts: MoSPI - [Indian Abroad News - We Bring You Home](https://indianabroad.news/13-of-19-services-sub-sectors-in-indias-economy-clock-double-digit-growth-in-aug) — 13 of 19 services sub-sectors in India’s economy clock double-digit growth in Aug - [bhaskarlive.in](https://bhaskarlive.in/others/13-of-19-services-sub-sectors-in-indias-economy-clock-double-digit-growth-in-aug-2159008) — 13 of 19 services sub-sectors in India’s economy clock double-digit growth in Aug - [Moneycontrol](https://moneycontrol.com/news/business/retail-trade-leads-services-growth-at-19-9-in-august-air-transport-contracts-9-6-mospi-14063623.html) — Retail trade leads services growth at 19.9% in August, air transport contracts 9.6%: MoSPI - [Social News XYZ](https://socialnews.xyz/2026/10/29/13-of-19-services-sub-sectors-in-indias-economy-clock-double-digit-growth-in-aug) — 13 of 19 services sub-sectors in India’s economy clock double-digit growth in Aug ## Questions **Which services sub-sectors in India showed the most growth in August 2026?** Retail trade recorded the highest year-on-year growth at 19.9% in August 2026. Real estate and repair services followed, both growing by 17.6%. Other sectors with significant growth included insurance (16.5%) and banking (14.9%). **Which services sub-sectors contracted in August 2026?** Air transport services saw a contraction of 9.6% in August 2026, which Live Mint attributed to rising energy prices. Arts, entertainment, and recreational services also declined, contracting by 4.7%. **What is the Index of Services Production (ISP)?** The Index of Services Production (ISP) is a new trial monthly gauge designed to measure activity and output changes across various services sub-sectors in India. It aims to provide timely data on the services sector, which is a major contributor to the country's economy. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/indias-services-sector-shows-broad-growth-in-august. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "India's services sector shows broad growth in August", https://mediabias.news/business/indias-services-sector-shows-broad-growth-in-august