Expanding Market for Counterfeit Products

March 19, 2026

CRISIL has conducted a survey regarding counterfeit products in the country’s markets. The survey reveals that the market for fake goods is spreading rapidly across the entire nation. It is a startling reality that one in every three consumers in the country falls victim to counterfeit products.

The CRISIL survey found that the textile sector is witnessing the highest influx of counterfeit materials; domestically produced garments are being sold under the brand labels of foreign apparel companies. The survey indicates that 89 percent of Indians have purchased a counterfeit product at least once in their lifetime.

In 2025, approximately 31 percent of consumers purchased counterfeit clothing. Furthermore, 22 percent of automobile parts currently in circulation are fake. About 28 percent of medicines being sold are counterfeit. In the agricultural sector, 35 percent of farmers fall victim to fake fertilizers and seeds. These are not mere conjectures, but rather the findings of extensive surveys conducted across major cities—including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. According to these findings, counterfeit goods account for a 53 percent share of the products purchased by consumers online.

Through advertisements, 46 percent of the clothing and 35 percent of the electronic goods being sold are counterfeit. It is also acknowledged that counterfeit goods are sold rampantly at retail outlets as well. A matter of grave concern is the significant surge in instances of counterfeiting and fraud observed in recent times. Consequently, awareness campaigns are currently being conducted across the country to address this issue