From 5,000-Yr-Old Carts To 153 Countries: Inside India’s Massive Toy Revolution

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says India’s toy culture is deeply rooted in its civilisational heritage, from traditional melas and storytelling toys to 5,000-year-old Sindhu-Saraswati terracotta bullock carts. She said the modern Indian toy industry is now using this legacy to build new and innovative products. Sitharaman highlighted that India’s toy exports reached $186 million in FY25-26, while toy imports dropped by 71% between 2019 and 2026. She added that Indian toys are now exported to 153 countries, but India should aim higher than the projected $5 billion toy market by 2034.