The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has launched the third round of its Forward-Looking Survey on Private Corporate Sector CAPEX Investment Intentions, running from October to December 2026. The survey collects information on capital spending by large private companies to help policymakers understand investment trends across the Indian economy.
Key facts
- Survey period: October to December 2026
- Previous CAPEX 2025 survey showed manufacturing accounts for 50.17% of aggregate capital expenditure (₹5,73,900 crore)
- Information and communication sector: 16.38% of CAPEX (₹1,87,395 crore)
- Electricity, gas and related services: 8.96% (₹1,02,448 crore)
- Transportation and storage: 5.55% (₹63,517 crore)
- Panel of 3,819 enterprises tracked across the three surveys
- Projected CAPEX growth: 1.9% over 2024-25 actual spending
- Realisation ratio in 2024-25: 96.3%, indicating companies largely met investment targets
- Robotics investments: 21.16% of enterprises planned over 80% of CAPEX in robotics; 78.84% planned less than 20%
What the survey measures
The CAPEX survey collects data on capital expenditure that companies have already spent in recent years, their provisional spending in the current financial year, and their investment plans for the coming year. It covers spending on different types of assets across various industries, along with information on investment strategies, financing sources and investment objectives.
The survey targets large private sector companies selected from those registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and meeting specified turnover criteria. Data collection happens through a secure online portal where companies self-report their information.
Findings from earlier surveys
The first CAPEX survey, conducted between November 2024 and January 2025, showed that manufacturing dominated private sector capital spending at 43.80% of total expenditure. Information and communication accounted for 15.60%, and transportation and storage for 14.00%.
The second survey, run from October to December 2025, revealed that manufacturing’s share had grown to 50.17% of aggregate capital expenditure in 2025-26. Companies investing in the sector reported actual spending of ₹173.5 crore per enterprise on average during 2024-25, with a realisation ratio of 96.3%. This means actual spending was broadly in line with what companies had planned to invest.
New features in CAPEX 2026
The third survey includes enhanced features to improve data quality and ease of reporting. Companies can now provide information on green energy investments and robotics spending separately. The online portal offers self-compilation and submission capabilities, along with digital support through instruction manuals, video guides and an artificial intelligence chatbot to help companies navigate the process.
The questionnaire is available in both English and Hindi to improve accessibility for respondents across the country.
Why timely participation matters
The Ministry emphasises that the usefulness of survey results depends on participation and prompt responses from selected companies. Individual enterprise data contributes to creating aggregate indicators of private sector investment that help track which sectors are expanding and at what pace. Timely submission allows the National Statistics Office to validate and process information within the survey schedule, ensuring policymakers and stakeholders receive reliable statistics promptly.
Data confidentiality
The Ministry assures participating enterprises that individual company data will remain confidential and will not be released publicly. Only aggregate-level findings across sectors and industries are published. The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, governs the survey and protects the confidentiality of sensitive business information.
What this means for you
If you work in a large private company or manage corporate finance, this survey directly affects your organisation if it has been selected to participate. Participation is mandatory under the Collection of Statistics Act. The survey results help the government frame economic policies and understand where private investment is flowing, which influences decisions on infrastructure, industrial support and taxation.
For students and those preparing for competitive exams, the survey data provides real-world insight into how India’s private sector allocates capital, sector-wise investment trends and the relationship between planned and actual spending by companies.