Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Republic Day Sales Boost Online Orders
During the Republic Day sales in 2026, online shopping in India saw a big increase.
The number of orders went up by 16.9% compared to last year, and the total amount spent also grew by 11.9%.
This growth was mainly because people are buying more often, not necessarily spending more on each order.
Smaller cities, called Tier-3 cities, made up almost 40% of all online orders, with a 19% increase in order volumes.
Cities like Kolar, Rohtak, Ernakulam, Kamrup, and Khordha were big contributors.
People are buying more everyday items like food, beauty products, and farming supplies.
Faster delivery services are also becoming more popular, with a 25% increase in orders.
To handle all the orders, sellers sent millions of messages to customers and used AI to help with sales.
Order volumes during the Republic Day sales increased by 16.9% year-on-year, with gross merchandise value (GMV) rising by 11.9%, indicating growth driven by higher purchase frequency.
Tier-3 cities accounted for nearly 40% of total order items, with order volumes growing over 19% year-on-year, highlighting the deepening penetration of e-commerce in smaller cities.
FMCG and agriculture products saw the highest growth at 80% year-on-year, followed by beauty and wellness at 53%, driven by demand for everyday and health-focused products.
Quick commerce orders rose by 25% year-on-year, with brand-owned websites also seeing a 23% increase, reflecting the growing preference for faster delivery models.
Sellers sent over 2.5 million messages through SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS to manage high order volumes, and AI Voice Agent 'Catalyst' facilitated over 1.2 lakh calls, delivering significant revenue.
- Who
- Online shoppers in India, particularly in Tier-3 cities
- What
- Increased online order volumes and gross merchandise value during Republic Day sales
- When
- During the Republic Day sale period in 2026
- Where
- India, with significant contributions from Tier-3 cities like Kolar, Rohtak, Ernakulam, Kamrup, and Khordha
- Why
- Due to higher purchase frequency, deeper e-commerce penetration in smaller cities, and demand for essential and everyday products
- Overall Order Volume Growth
- 16.9% year-on-year
- Gross Merchandise Value Growth
- 11.9% year-on-year
- Tier-3 City Contribution
- 40% of total online orders
- Tier-3 Order Volume Growth
- 19% year-on-year
- Top Contributing Cities
- Kolar, Rohtak, Ernakulam, Kamrup, Khordha
- FMCG and Agriculture Growth
- 80% year-on-year
- Beauty and Wellness Growth
- 53% year-on-year
- Quick Commerce Growth
- 25% year-on-year
- Brand-Owned Website Growth
- 23% year-on-year
- Customer Communication Messages
- 2.5 million
- AI Voice Agent Calls
- 1.2 lakh
