India’s direct selling market jumped 10x in a decade, touched Rs 30k crore, says Union minister Prahlad Joshi

Gurgaon: India's direct selling industry witnessed remarkable expansion over the past decade, growing from Rs 3,000 crore in 2015 to over Rs 30,000 crore in 2025–26, Union minister Prahlad Joshi said on Monday. "The sector now contributes nearly Rs 3,600 crore in taxes to the govt," Joshi said.The Union minister, while addressing the third edition of Direct Selling Women Entrepreneurship Summit 2026 in Gurgaon, credited the reforms, introduced under Narendra Modi, "which defined and regulated the direct selling ecosystem", protecting both consumers and sellers.Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said direct selling is emerging as a major force in strengthening women's economic independence. "Women's entrepreneurship is powering India's rise as the world's fourth-largest economy, soon to become the third," said Meghwal.According to industry estimates, Haryana accounts for Rs 2,000–2,200 crore of India's total direct selling turnover, positioning it among the top five states. The state has nearly 5–6 lakh active direct sellers, of which over 60% are women, reflecting the strong adoption of the model in urban hubs like Gurgaon and Faridabad and emerging rural markets.Confederation of All India Traders general secretary and MP Praveen Khandelwal said that direct selling is enabling women to fulfil entrepreneurial aspirations while contributing to household incomes. Association of Direct Selling Entities of India president Sanjeev Kumar added that since 2014, the sector aligned closely with national priorities — women empowerment, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Skill India and the promotion of indigenous products.