Brand of the Year 2026: India

Branded flour and pantry staples: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Tata Sampann

Why this brandTata Sampann has a focused pulses, spices and staples proposition for home cooking.

Dairy products: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Milky Mist

Why this brandMilky Mist has built a distinct identity around packaged dairy products.

Category test: Cold-chain reliability, product safety, farmer relationships and repeat household use matter more here than a single popular milk product. Read the category guide

Biscuits: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Sunfeast

Why this brandSunfeast has a clear biscuit identity across multiple formats and price points.

Chocolate: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

KitKat

Why this brandKitKat pairs a familiar wafer format with a clear chocolate brand identity.

Savoury snacks: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Balaji Wafers

Why this brandBalaji Wafers offers a focused savoury-snack brand with regional roots.

Ready-to-eat meals: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

ITC Master Chef

Why this brandITC Master Chef brings branded ready meals into the home-cooking category.

Cola and carbonated soft drinks: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Pepsi

Why this brandPepsi has a distinct cola brand that competes for the same drinking occasion.

Branded tea: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Wagh Bakri

Why this brandWagh Bakri brings a longstanding Indian tea identity to this consumer category.

Whisky: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Johnnie Walker

Why this brandJohnnie Walker is a distinct whisky brand with a broad product ladder.

Skin care: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Minimalist

Why this brandMinimalist makes ingredient-led skin care central to its brand identity.

Category test: Ingredient clarity, suitability for different skin needs, product testing and a trustworthy claims record should carry weight. Read the category guide

Hair care: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

L'Oréal Paris

Why this brandL'Oréal Paris offers a broad hair-care range under one consumer-facing name.

Colour cosmetics: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

SUGAR Cosmetics

Why this brandSUGAR Cosmetics has built its consumer proposition around makeup.

Fragrances: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Bella Vita

Why this brandBella Vita presents perfume as its central consumer proposition.

Oral care: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Oral-B

Why this brandOral-B has a familiar toothbrush and oral-care product range.

Laundry detergents: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Tide

Why this brandTide has a defined place in the detergent aisle.

Air conditioners: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Daikin

Why this brandDaikin is identified with cooling products and a focused air-conditioning offer.

Category test: Cooling performance in Indian conditions, energy efficiency, service reach and reliability after purchase are central. Read the category guide

Everyday apparel: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

UNIQLO India

Why this brandUNIQLO India is identified with functional everyday clothing.

Sportswear and athleisure: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Puma

Why this brandPuma bridges sportswear and casual clothing in one consumer brand.

Footwear: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Skechers

Why this brandSkechers is recognisable for comfort-led casual footwear.

Luxury fashion and accessories: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Sabyasachi

Why this brandSabyasachi brings an Indian couture identity to luxury fashion.

Jewellery: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Kalyan Jewellers

Why this brandKalyan Jewellers operates under a recognisable jewellery retail brand.

Watches: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Timex

Why this brandTimex has a straightforward consumer watch proposition.

Passenger cars: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles

Why this brandTata Motors Passenger Vehicles offers consumers a defined car and SUV portfolio.

Electric passenger vehicles: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Mahindra BE 6

Why this brandMahindra BE 6 is a specific electric SUV name for this category.

Two-wheelers and scooters: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

TVS Motor

Why this brandTVS Motor has a clear two-wheeler portfolio for Indian riders.

Electric two-wheelers: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

TVS iQube

Why this brandTVS iQube is a named electric scooter line that buyers can assess directly.

Tyres: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

CEAT

Why this brandCEAT competes directly for replacement-tyre purchases.

Car service networks: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Mahindra First Choice

Why this brandMahindra First Choice provides a recognisable car-service network.

Ride-hailing and shared mobility: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Rapido

Why this brandRapido gives riders a distinct app-based mobility choice.

Retail banking: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

ICICI Bank

Why this brandICICI Bank provides a recognisable retail-banking app and branch proposition.

Category test: Trust depends on service accessibility, digital reliability, fees, complaint handling and safeguards for account holders. Read the category guide

Credit cards: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

HDFC Bank Credit Cards

Why this brandHDFC Bank Credit Cards gives consumers a broad branded card range.

Life insurance: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

HDFC Life

Why this brandHDFC Life has a defined life-insurance brand and product range.

Health insurance: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Care Health Insurance

Why this brandCare Health Insurance is a directly comparable health-insurance brand.

Consumer lending: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Navi

Why this brandNavi presents lending through a direct-to-consumer digital brand.

Housing finance: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Bajaj Housing Finance

Why this brandBajaj Housing Finance is a named lender for home buyers.

Consumer payments and fintech: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Paytm

Why this brandPaytm has a familiar app identity across consumer payments.

Mutual funds: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund

Why this brandICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has a direct investor-facing fund identity.

Securities brokerage and trading platforms: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Upstox

Why this brandUpstox offers a direct digital brokerage choice for retail investors.

Smartphones: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

vivo

Why this brandvivo has a recognisable smartphone range for Indian buyers.

Personal computers and tablets: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Dell

Why this brandDell is a directly comparable laptop and desktop brand.

Personal audio: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

JBL

Why this brandJBL is recognisable for headphones and speakers.

Personal productivity software: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Notion

Why this brandNotion offers individuals a recognisable workspace for notes and planning.

Consumer AI assistants: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Perplexity

Why this brandPerplexity presents AI-assisted answers through a consumer app.

Consumer digital security: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Norton

Why this brandNorton is a recognisable personal-device protection brand.

Social media and creator platforms: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Snapchat

Why this brandSnapchat has a recognisable messaging and creator experience.

Category test: Creator tools, audience reach, safety controls and the ability to build a durable presence shape platform value. Read the category guide

Smartwatches and wearables: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Fitbit

Why this brandFitbit is a named wearable and activity-tracking brand.

Gaming hardware: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

ASUS ROG Ally

Why this brandASUS ROG Ally gives consumers a recognisable handheld gaming device.

Telecommunications services: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

BSNL

Why this brandBSNL is a recognisable consumer mobile-network name.

Over-the-counter cold and flu remedies: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Crocin Cold & Flu

Why this brandCrocin Cold & Flu has a defined cold-and-flu product identity.

Vitamins and supplements: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Supradyn

Why this brandSupradyn is a direct consumer vitamin and supplement choice.

Home health monitoring devices: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Accu-Chek

Why this brandAccu-Chek is a named home glucose-monitoring choice.

Hospitals and care networks: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Fortis Healthcare

Why this brandFortis Healthcare offers a named hospital network for patients.

Diagnostic laboratories: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Thyrocare

Why this brandThyrocare is identified with preventive tests and pathology services.

Pharmacy chains: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Wellness Forever

Why this brandWellness Forever is a consumer-facing pharmacy chain.

Telehealth services: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

MediBuddy

Why this brandMediBuddy offers a clearly branded digital consultation service.

Supermarkets and grocery retail: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

SPAR India

Why this brandSPAR India offers a clear supermarket identity for household purchases.

Department stores: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Westside

Why this brandWestside has a distinct department-store identity built around its own ranges.

E-commerce marketplaces: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Meesho

Why this brandMeesho has a distinct value-shopping marketplace proposition.

Category test: Selection, delivery, seller standards, returns and buyer protection determine the marketplace experience. Read the category guide

Quick commerce: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Swiggy Instamart

Why this brandSwiggy Instamart is a distinct rapid-delivery service within the Swiggy app.

Electronics retail: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Vijay Sales

Why this brandVijay Sales has a clear electronics-store identity.

Airlines: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Akasa Air

Why this brandAkasa Air has a distinct consumer airline identity.

Hotels and accommodation: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

ITC Hotels

Why this brandITC Hotels gives travellers a named hotel portfolio.

Online travel booking: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Cleartrip

Why this brandCleartrip offers a recognisable travel-booking interface.

Self-drive car rentals: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

IndusGo

Why this brandIndusGo has a clear self-drive rental offer in several Indian cities.

Intercity bus operators: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Zingbus

Why this brandZingbus presents a clear intercity bus experience for travellers.

Broadcast television and news: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

CNBC-TV18

Why this brandCNBC-TV18 is a named business-news channel for viewers.

Video streaming services: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Prime Video India

Why this brandPrime Video India is a direct subscription video choice.

Video games and gaming platforms: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

VALORANT India

Why this brandVALORANT gives players a clearly identified multiplayer game experience.

Music streaming services: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Apple Music

Why this brandApple Music offers a named subscription music catalogue.

Schools and school networks: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Podar International School

Why this brandPodar International School gives parents a clear school-network identity.

Universities and higher education: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Ashoka University

Why this brandAshoka University presents a distinctive liberal-arts university proposition.

Education technology and test preparation: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Unacademy

Why this brandUnacademy gives learners a clearly identified online preparation service.

Household cooking gas: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Bharatgas

Why this brandBharatgas is a recognisable cooking-gas brand for consumers.

Fuel retail: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Hindustan Petroleum

Why this brandHindustan Petroleum is a direct consumer fuel-station brand.

Public EV charging networks: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Statiq

Why this brandStatiq offers a consumer-facing charging network and app.

Category test: Uptime, connector compatibility, pricing clarity and support at the charger are central to EV drivers. Read the category guide

Rooftop solar for homes: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Loom Solar

Why this brandLoom Solar has a direct consumer proposition for rooftop solar.

Home inverters and batteries: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Livguard

Why this brandLivguard offers a named home power-backup range.

Water purifiers: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Pureit

Why this brandPureit has a defined consumer water-purifier offer.

Category test: Match purification technology to local water conditions; assess maintenance costs, testing and service access. Read the category guide

Decorative paints: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Kansai Nerolac

Why this brandKansai Nerolac has a recognisable household paint range.

Bath fittings and sanitaryware: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Hindware

Why this brandHindware is a recognisable bathroom-products brand.

Small kitchen appliances: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Philips

Why this brandPhilips gives households a directly comparable kitchen-appliance range.

Residential real estate development: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Lodha

Why this brandLodha presents a named residential developer portfolio.

Category test: Delivery record, construction quality, disclosures, maintenance and treatment of buyers should be examined project by project. Read the category guide

Home interior design services: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

DesignCafe

Why this brandDesignCafe has a named home-interior design service.

Furniture and home furnishing stores: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Urban Ladder

Why this brandUrban Ladder is a direct consumer furniture and furnishing retailer.

Floor and wall tiles: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

NITCO

Why this brandNITCO has a recognisable tile and surface-design identity.

Household relocation services: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

NoBroker Packers and Movers

Why this brandNoBroker Packers and Movers offers a direct relocation service to households.

Consumer parcel delivery: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Delhivery

Why this brandDelhivery gives consumers a recognisable parcel-delivery option.

Home improvement retail: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Pepperfry

Why this brandPepperfry offers a consumer marketplace centred on furniture and home goods.

Baby skin care and toiletries: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Mamaearth Baby

Why this brandMamaearth Baby gives parents a clearly identified baby-care product line.

Diapers and baby hygiene: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

MamyPoko

Why this brandMamyPoko gives parents a named diaper choice.

Toys and games: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Hot Wheels

Why this brandHot Wheels is a clearly identified toy-car brand.

School stationery: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

DOMS

Why this brandDOMS offers a named consumer stationery portfolio.

Pet food: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Royal Canin

Why this brandRoyal Canin offers a named pet-nutrition portfolio.

Fresh meat and seafood delivery: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Zappfresh

Why this brandZappfresh offers a named meat-and-seafood ordering service.

Fitness centres: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Anytime Fitness India

Why this brandAnytime Fitness India offers a clearly branded fitness-centre network.

Beauty salon chains: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Looks Salon

Why this brandLooks Salon offers a direct salon choice across its locations.

Matrimony platforms: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

BharatMatrimony

Why this brandBharatMatrimony has a recognisable matrimony-platform identity.

Cinema chains: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Miraj Cinemas

Why this brandMiraj Cinemas has a distinct cinema-chain identity.

Food delivery apps: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Swiggy

Why this brandSwiggy remains a clear consumer food-delivery choice.

Category test: Restaurant choice, delivery reliability, fees, issue resolution and treatment of delivery partners deserve attention. Read the category guide

Laundry services: proposed Brand of the Year 2026

Tumbledry

Why this brandTumbledry remains a direct household laundry-service choice.