India Podcast Market Size 2026: Growth, Money and Jaipur

Every few weeks a new report claims the India podcast market size 2026 is somewhere between small and huge. Both can be true, because the reports measure different things. We record podcasts in Jaipur, so we read these numbers with one question in mind: what does this mean for a business or creator in a Tier 2 city who wants to start a show now?

This post gives you the figures with the publisher named, explains why they disagree, and then looks at Hindi growth, Rajasthan and the money side honestly.

Key takeaways

• Published estimates of the Indian podcast market for 2024-25 range from about USD 0.56 billion to USD 1.08 billion. Treat them as a range, not a fact.
• Deloitte’s 2026 report expects Indian podcasting to grow multi-fold over the next three to five years, driven by smartphones, cheap data and young listeners.
• Hindi and regional content is where the audience is widening, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
• Video is now central, and creators are moving from webcam setups to multi-camera production.
• Monetisation is the hard part. For most brands, a podcast earns trust and leads before it earns ad money.

India podcast market size 2026: how big is it really?

No single number is reliable. Market research firms put the Indian podcast market at roughly USD 0.56 to 1.08 billion for 2024-25, and all of them forecast strong growth. The gap most likely comes from how each firm defines the market, the base year and the revenue streams.

Why the spread? The reports we read do not fully spell out their methods, but the base years differ (2024 or 2025) and the definition of podcast revenue likely differs too. We would not quote any one figure as the answer. Use the range to understand direction: the market is small today and expected to grow fast.

Listener counts are just as messy. PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2025-29, as cited by Startuppedia, puts India at about 177 million monthly listeners in 2024, with around 7.5 hours of listening per week. IBEF cites 105 million listeners in 2024 and an estimate above 200 million in 2025. So podcast listeners in India in 2026 could be anywhere from 100 to 200 million, depending on who is counting and what counts as a listener.

What does Deloitte predict for the podcast industry in India?

Deloitte’s TMT Predictions 2026 says India’s podcast market will grow multi-fold over the next three to five years. The report, covered by ANI and Tribune in March 2026, credits smartphones, affordable data and maturing digital habits.

The detail matters more than the headline. According to the BuzzInContent summary of the report:

• Only 12% of Indians were actively engaged with podcasts in a 2024 consumer study, so there is a lot of room left.
• Listeners reportedly doubled from about 100 million in 2024 to 200 million in 2025, helped by mobile data and a youth-driven base.
• Creators are moving from basic webcam setups to multi-camera studio productions.
• Most Indian users prefer free, ad-supported or bundled offers, which makes monetisation difficult.

Deloitte’s global report also expects about USD 5 billion in global podcast and vodcast ad revenue in 2026, a rise of nearly 20% year on year. It names India, Nigeria and Brazil as emerging markets fuelled by localised, multilingual content, and lists discoverability, monetisation and scalability as the main challenges.

Two more signals are worth noting. A BusinessWorld summary of Deloitte’s predictions says a leading platform now offers video on over 60% of top shows since 2022. And Deloitte favours creators who build engaged communities, not just download counts, as NetInfluencer reports. In plain words: video and a loyal audience beat raw reach.

Is Hindi podcast growth leading the market?

Hindi and regional languages are driving the widening of the audience. IBEF repeats a forecast that up to 85% of podcast content will be in regional languages, with Hindi at about 45% and English at about 12%. ReportCubes puts Hindi’s share nearer 38%. The exact split differs, but the direction does not.

ReportCubes also says vernacular content is pulling in listeners from Tier II and III regions. IMARC’s 2025 regional split puts West India at 31.8% and North India at 28.3%, and credits the North’s share to a growing Hindi content library. Rajasthan sits in that North India picture.

For Hindi podcast growth, the practical meaning is simple. A Jaipur doctor, jeweller, coaching teacher or CA speaking in Hindi, or a Hindi-English mix, is no longer a niche. It is the main road. We have covered the city-level view in podcast growth in Tier 2 cities of India, and if you are starting from zero, our beginner guide to starting a podcast in India covers the first steps.

One caution: we have not found a trustworthy source for claims like a specific percentage of new listeners preferring regional languages, so we do not quote any. Use the publisher-named estimates above and treat them as directional.

Podcasting in Rajasthan: where does Jaipur stand?

Jaipur’s podcast scene looks young. We found no reliable audience data for Rajasthan, so we will not invent any. What we can say is that several Jaipur-linked shows started in 2024, which suggests the podcasting in Rajasthan scene is young, and open for new voices.

These shows exist, and the details below come from each show’s own pages. Their numbers are self-reported, so check live figures yourself:

• Padharo Mhare Podcast, hosted by KS Rathore, launched on 16 November 2024.
• Jaipur Junction Podcast, founded in 2024 by Aman Rajput.
• Jaipur Bytes, the official Jaipur Literature Festival podcast.
• YTMahendra Podcast, our own show. It is hosted by Mahendra Kumar, our founder, recorded at Oskillo Studio, and started in July 2024 according to its own page.

These are only the shows we could find, so there may be more. If you are searching for the best podcasts in Rajasthan, we would not rank them from self-reported numbers. What we can say is that the space looks open: a Jaipur lawyer, jeweller, architect or coaching teacher can build a niche before it gets crowded.

Is podcasting profitable in India? How to monetise a podcast in India

For most shows, not directly and not quickly. Deloitte’s report, as summarised by BuzzInContent, says most Indian users prefer free, ad-supported or bundled offers, so monetisation is hard. We found no sourced per-episode ad rate in India, so we will not quote one. Profit usually arrives as leads, trust and authority first.

It helps to separate two kinds of shows. A creator podcast depends on ads and sponsors, which need a large, steady audience. A brand or business podcast works differently. A CA, a clinic or a manufacturer uses the show to build trust, so a prospect has already “met” them before the first call. The sales cycle can get shorter, and a few good enquiries may justify the cost. That is why podcasting can be worth it for small business owners who want trust before the first call.

If you are asking how much it costs to start a podcast in India, the studio side is something we can be exact about. Using our published rates, one episode could look like this:

That is before any add-ons. Full details are on our podcast studio pricing in Jaipur page.

What should a Jaipur brand do before starting a show?

Decide who the show is for and what it should lead to, before you book a studio. A podcast with a clear audience and a clear next step works much better than one made only because everyone has one. Deloitte’s focus on engaged communities over raw downloads points the same way.

1. Pick one audience. Homebuyers, exam students or exporters are good answers. “Everyone” is not.
2. Choose the language. Hindi, English or a mix. Write your title and subtitles to match how your audience searches.
3. Plan 6 to 8 episode topics and a guest list before recording, so you are not scrambling after episode two.
4. Record in video. Video podcast formats are where India is heading in 2026, and clips are what travel on Instagram and YouTube Shorts, which is where new people find you.
5. Decide your call to action. A WhatsApp number, a consultation or a newsletter. Say it in every episode.

At Oskillo: how we help you record in Jaipur

Oskillo Studio is a podcast studio in Jaipur, in Vaishali Nagar, offering video and photography too, with soundproof rooms, seven themed sets and editing under one roof. You can rent it with or without editing, and beginners are guided. We are on the 3rd Floor, VR Theme Park, near Mall of Jaipur, open 10 AM to 8 PM every day.

Our process has four steps: concept and strategy, pre-production (question flow, set, mic, light and camera checks), production in 4K multicam with live monitoring, and post-production with editing, colour, audio mastering, captions, reels and thumbnails. Mahendra and Umesh are present at every shoot, so first-time guests get on-spot guidance. We have delivered 100+ productions, and CA Dr. Amit Khandal, a Chartered Accountant, is one of our clients.

Business Class uses a Shure SM7B with a RODECaster Pro II console, and Economy Class uses a Shure MV7+ with a Zoom PodTrak P8. The cameras we use on our own show are the Sony A7 IV and A7C. Clients outside Jaipur can also send recordings for remote podcast editing.

If you are planning a show, see our studio rental page, then message us on WhatsApp or use the contact page to book a slot in advance.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the podcast market in India in 2026?

Publishers disagree. Estimates for 2024-25 range from about USD 0.56 billion (Astute Analytica) to USD 1.08 billion (IMARC). All forecast strong growth, though forecasts for the mid-2030s range from USD 4.25 billion to USD 9.9 billion. Use the range for direction, not as a precise figure.

How many podcast listeners are there in India in 2026?

Sources differ. PwC cites about 177 million monthly listeners in 2024, IBEF cites 105 million in 2024 and above 200 million in 2025, and Deloitte says listeners doubled to about 200 million in 2025. Definitions of a listener vary, so treat 100 to 200 million as the realistic range.

What does Deloitte predict for podcasts in India?

Deloitte’s TMT Predictions 2026 expects India’s podcast market to grow multi-fold over the next three to five years, driven by smartphones, affordable data and young users. It also warns that monetisation is hard because most Indian users prefer free or bundled content.

Are Hindi podcasts more popular than English ones?

Estimates say yes. IBEF’s forecast puts Hindi at about 45% of podcast content and English at about 12%, while ReportCubes estimates Hindi at about 38%. The numbers vary by publisher, but both show Hindi and regional content ahead of English.

Is podcasting profitable in India?

For most shows, direct ad income is small at first. Deloitte notes that Indian users prefer free, ad-supported content. Brand and professional podcasts usually earn through trust, enquiries and clients rather than ad revenue, and that return can take months of regular episodes to show.

Podcast se paisa kaise kamate hain India mein?

Mostly through sponsorships, brand deals, YouTube ads, paid consulting or services, and leads for your own business. Pure ad income needs a steady audience. Many Jaipur professionals use a podcast to build authority and attract clients, which often pays back faster than ads.

What is the difference between a podcast and a video podcast?

A podcast is audio-first and listened to on audio apps. A video podcast is recorded with cameras and published on YouTube and social platforms, usually with short clips for reels. Deloitte-based reports show video is now offered on most top shows, so many creators record both.