Published on: Feb 04, 2013 by Aparna Dutt Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, IBEF

With the rising internet penetration and the increasing acceptance towards online buying, the e-commerce industry in India has grown by leaps and bounds during the past few years and is expected to continue on the strong growth path even in 2013. As per a recently released study, online shopping in India registered a 128 per cent growth in 2011-12, as compared to 40 per cent growth filed during the previous year. The study further said that the e-commerce industry in India will see an exponential growth in 2013. Currently, the number of online buyers in the country stands at eight million and is expected to grow multi-fold in the coming years.

While travel, consumer electronics and apparels are the three main categories for online buying in India, other segments like books, beauty & personal care, home & furnishings, baby products and healthcare are also gaining traction among consumers. Clearly, the huge market base and growth potential has continued to attract many players, domestic and international, over the past few years and can be expected to see a lot more dynamism in the near future.