September brought signs of easing ties between India and China. It also saw Indians boycott the India-Pakistan cricket match in solidarity with the armed forces. The GST cuts took effect from September 22, triggering a consumption pickup.
That shift may have contributed to better-than-expected earnings commentary for the second half of the year. Sport delivered a defining moment. After India’s T20 World Cup win and D Gukesh’s World Chess Championship title in 2024, the Indian women’s cricket team won the World Cup in November. The celebrations united the country.
The entertainment sector closed the year with contrast. The Gujarati devotional film “Laalo” earned more than Rs 100 crore on a production cost of Rs 50 lakh, even as much of Indian cinema struggled.