Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Smart Maintenance Could Unlock 1% GDP Opportunity for India
Machines sometimes stop working when people need them most.
These unexpected breakdowns can cost Indian businesses a lot of money and slow down work.
Industry leaders say better maintenance could help India recover some of that lost productivity, possibly creating an opportunity worth 1 per cent of GDP.
Instead of waiting for equipment to break, businesses can use data and technology to spot problems earlier.
NITI Aayog has recommended tools such as artificial intelligence, digital twins and remote monitoring.
These approaches may help equipment last longer and reduce costs.
Many Indian businesses still rely on fixing things only after they fail.
The market for tools that help manage assets is expected to grow substantially by 2033.
Industry leaders at MRAM Expo 2026 said smarter maintenance could create a 1 per cent GDP opportunity by reducing lost productivity.
An ABB survey found 88 per cent of Indian industrial businesses experienced an unplanned outage at least once a month, versus 69 per cent globally.
The survey estimated that outages cost a typical Indian business nearly Rs 70 lakh per hour; 19 per cent of Indian respondents still used run-to-fail maintenance.
NITI Aayog recommends AI-based predictive maintenance, digital twins, automated substation operations and remote monitoring for more reliable infrastructure.
India’s Asset Performance Management market was estimated at USD 810.6 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 2.25 billion by 2033.
- Who
- Industry leaders, including speakers at MRAM Expo 2026, discussed the potential of smarter maintenance for India.
- What
- They said better asset management and predictive maintenance could reduce downtime and unlock a 1 per cent GDP opportunity.
- When
- The discussion took place at MRAM Expo 2026 on Wednesday; the articles do not specify a calendar date.
- Where
- At MRAM Expo 2026 in India; the articles do not specify the city.
- Why
- Equipment breakdowns, unplanned downtime and inefficient assets cause productivity losses and costs.
Reactive maintenance
Predictive, data-driven maintenance
Maintenance approach
Reactive maintenance
Run-to-fail practices address equipment after it breaks; 19 per cent of Indian survey respondents continued to rely on this approach.
Predictive, data-driven maintenance
Industry leaders advocate predictive, data-driven and reliability-centred maintenance to identify problems earlier.
Expected impact
Reactive maintenance
Unplanned outages can cause substantial productivity losses and costs; the survey put the cost to a typical Indian business at nearly Rs 70 lakh per hour.
Predictive, data-driven maintenance
Better maintenance can improve output, extend asset life, reduce operating costs and strengthen productivity, according to the industry leaders quoted.
- Potential GDP opportunity
- 1 per cent, according to industry leaders at MRAM Expo 2026
- Indian businesses reporting monthly outages
- 88 per cent, according to an ABB global survey
- Global businesses reporting monthly outages
- 69 per cent, according to the same survey
- Estimated cost of downtime
- Nearly Rs 70 lakh per hour for a typical Indian business, according to the survey
- Indian respondents using run-to-fail maintenance
- 19 per cent, according to the ABB survey
- Indian APM market estimate
- USD 810.6 million in 2024
- Projected Indian APM market
- USD 2.25 billion by 2033, at around 12 per cent CAGR