The Centre has set up a task force to support India’s toy industry and chart a roadmap to secure a 5% share of the global toy market by 2032, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Monday.Speaking at the “Team Up for Toys: Driving SCALE, Innovation and Exports” stakeholder meet organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Goyal said the task force will focus on integrating Indian manufacturers into global value chains, strengthening domestic manufacturing, resolving supply chain bottlenecks, building a skilled workforce, promoting design and innovation, and improving ease of doing business.
The minister also launched the Toy Sector Playbook, a roadmap for manufacturers, startups, MSMEs, investors and entrepreneurs. The playbook provides guidance on manufacturing ecosystems, value chains, quality standards, skills development, intellectual property, exports and emerging market opportunities.
India’s toy ecosystem currently comprises more than 21,000 MSMEs, over 770 DPIIT-recognised toy startups, nearly 50 toy clusters and more than 1,800 BIS licence holders.The announcement comes as India’s toy exports have grown sharply over the past eight years. Total toy exports rose 152% from $152.7 million in FY18 to $384.7 million in FY26.The strongest growth came from electronic and non-electronic toys, where exports increased nearly 160%, from $77.35 million to $200.89 million over the same period.The United States remained India’s largest export market, with shipments rising more than fourfold to $111.9 million in FY26 from $26.7 million in FY18. Other major destinations included the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands and Germany.Exports of video game consoles and related products nearly tripled to $46.75 million, while exports of festive, carnival and other entertainment articles rose about 130% to $137.03 million during the period.On the import side, the government said imports of traditional and educational toys declined 66% as domestic manufacturing capacity improved, although imports of video game consoles and festive articles continued to grow.As a result, India recorded a $152 million trade surplus across key toy categories in FY26, reversing a $213 million trade deficit in FY18.Following the launch, government officials and industry representatives discussed ways to scale up manufacturing, strengthen local supply chains, improve product design and quality, develop skilled manpower, and boost exports to increase India’s participation in global toy value chains.
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