Retail needs therapy: Future and fortunes of a business after coronavirus

Modern, organised retail is bleeding as the coronavirus pandemic keeps India indoors and shuttered. Arvind Singhal explains what it will take to get this business back on its feet

India’s economy slowed down in March, but it is projected to have managed a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of about $3,000 billion at the end of FY20. Private consumption accounts for about 58 per cent of GDP (around $1,700 billion). Of such consumption, about 48 per cent (or about $825 billion) is consumer spending on merchandise (the size of India’s retail sector) and the remaining $875 billion is spent on a range of services (and small savings).

Traditional mom & pop retail accounts for the largest share and will continue to do so, despite the Cassandras crying for the