MAM
Laqshya Media Group Exclusive Research -136 districts (comprising 139,641 villages) in the top 9 states can lead the economic revival process
According to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) ‘rural’ is an area with a Population Density of 400 per sq km and villages with clear surveyed boundaries but no municipal board. Min 75% male working population has to be involved in agriculture & allied activities. RBI defines rural areas as those areas with a Population less than 49,000 (tier -3 to tier-6 cities). This definition governs the agricultural credit given by banks and NBFCs.
Laqshya Media Group’s latest report gives us a sneak peek into startling data about the growth and innovation in Rural India and its industries, including agriculture, fertilizers, tractors, building materials and FMCG. It highlights the geographical areas that hold potential, even as the urban markets are slowed down by the pandemic. It spotlights the districts that have low infections and high GDP values and it showcases the infrastructural opportunities that the private sector should consider for long term profitability.
Agriculture in India has come a long way. India is a massive producer of food grains, horticulture, cash crops, milk and livestock-related products, resulting in India being self-sufficient in feeding its 1.37 billion population. Along with the growth in agriculture and livestock, there is also a quantum jump in India’s investment in Rural Infrastructure, which is a huge opportunity for all the mainline industries.
India is the largest producer of milk, pulses, jute, etc. and the second largest in crops like rice, wheat and tea. Agriculture contributes 17% to the Indian GDP and 45% to employment generation. India is home to the world's highest-selling Tractor brand (M&M) and the world's largest fertilizer cooperative (IFFCO). It is also the 2nd largest producer of cement.
In India approx. 270 Mn rural consumers (35%) have discretionary spending powers, helped by improved agricultural practices and better access to markets. Rural Market constitutes the following
40% of FMCG sales – estimated to rise to USD $100 billion by 2025
50% of motorbike sales
38% of Cement Sales (out of residential cement)
~8-10% of e-commerce estimated to rise to $10-$12 billion by 2025
GOI’s intent to double farmers’ income in 7 years (from 2015-16 to 2022-23) – GOI’s intent marked a significant departure of the past when the emphasis had been only on production rather than its marketability. In addition, public funding on infrastructure and food grains procurement will give a significant boost to the rural population.
The report also talks about case studies of initiatives carried out by big brands in rural India. It talks about ITC’s e-choupal Baareh Mahine Hariyali, Mahindra’s Rural Housing Finance with easy loans, Amazon’s Handmade initiative and Rural Distribution Centres, Flipkart’s Motorola for Rural Markets initiative and IFFCO’s Indian Cooperative Digital Platform.
Opportunities in Rural India are wide and varied. Brands can grow by capitalizing on the currently increasing incomes and aspirations of the rural buyers.
The momentum in the rural economy can be built on by fulfilling the need gaps that are holding back higher growth of the rural economy including higher productivity of crops and more capacity for processing of crops.
Engagement with the Rural population should be customized with hyperlocal solutions.
“Rural India constitutes 66% of the country’s population. Over the last few years Rural India’s contribution to the overall GDP has dipped but there are also innumerable opportunities for growth. Good monsoons have boosted crop production in the last year and much investment has been made for improving infrastructure. Many gaps are noticeable which if fulfilled can give a great boost to the Indian economy. In the current Covid-19 situation we have also looked into the top districts in 9 states of India. 126 out of 281 districts across 5 states has less than 1000 active cases and contributes nearly 60% to the GDP. These 126 districts constitute 139,641 villages with great potential for an increase in production and consumption. So, with the correct planning, huge opportunities lie here for marketers.” Atul Shrivastava, CEO, Laqshya Media Group.
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MAM
Netflix Q1 2026 earnings ad growth and content spending in focus
Streaming giant set to report results on Thursday after walking away from Warner Bros Discovery takeover.
MUMBAI: Netflix is about to hit play on its latest quarterly numbers and investors are hoping the plot thickens in all the right ways. The streaming leader reports its first-quarter 2026 earnings on Thursday, marking its first set of results since it walked away from a proposed takeover of Warner Bros Discovery. That failed bid would have handed Netflix prized franchises such as Game of Thrones and Friends on a silver platter, sparing the costly effort of building its own library. Instead, the company now faces tougher competition from a potential $110 billion Warner Bros-Paramount Skydance combination, should that deal close.
Analysts polled by LSEG expect Netflix to post a 15.5 per cent rise in revenue to $12.18 billion, with advertising contributing $634 million. The company raised US prices in March, a move some believe could prompt an upward revision to its full-year revenue forecast and nudge more subscribers towards the faster-growing ad-supported tier.
Netflix shares have climbed 13 per cent so far this year and are up roughly 26 per cent since the company stepped back from the $72 billion Warner Bros deal. With the merger drama behind it, the spotlight now shifts to how aggressively Netflix can expand its advertising business and live programming.
“We’re kind of entering another phase for the ad business, where they are becoming one of the largest scaled global advertising platforms,” said Gabelli Funds portfolio manager John Belton, which holds Netflix shares.
During the quarter, Netflix beefed up its live slate with a BTS concert streamed from Seoul that drew 18.4 million viewers worldwide and the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which became the most-streamed baseball game globally. Investors are watching for signals that the company will lean further into sports and other live events to fuel ad revenue growth.
The results come at a pivotal moment. Having dodged what could have been a debt-heavy acquisition, Netflix has the freedom and the cash to double down on its core strengths: original content spending and building a robust, scaled advertising platform. Whether the numbers deliver a binge-worthy performance or leave viewers wanting more, one thing is clear: the streaming wars are far from over, and Netflix is determined to keep its crown.
Expect plenty of drama when the figures drop after all, in the world of streaming, every quarter is its own cliffhanger.
