Indian retail sector - An emerging opportunity

The retail sector is one of the fastest growing in India over the last few years. The Indian retail industry, which comprises organized and unorganized retail, is currently estimated at US$ 490 billion. It has experienced high growth over the last decade with a noticeable shift towards organized retailing formats. The industry is moving towards a modern concept of retailing. Modern retailing is capable of generating employment opportunities. It offers huge potential for growth in coming years. India is becoming most favored retail destination in the world. The Government's initiative to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail has been a subject for debate for quite some time now. Indian retail sector has therefore attracted the attention of people from various fields including academia, industry, research organizations. This paper attempts to explore opportunities in the organized India retail sector. The analysis also covers the opportunities and emerging challenges before Indian retail sector in view of recent policy changes by Government of India.