New Delhi, Jan. 20 -- The Indian manufacturing sector has reached a historic milestone, with the industry's performance index hitting an all-time high in the third quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year.

According to the 68th edition of the FICCI Quarterly Survey on Manufacturing (QSM) released in New Delhi today, the sector is experiencing sustained growth and "increasing optimism" across both large-scale industries and small-to-medium enterprises.

The survey, which represents units with a combined annual turnover exceeding Rs. 3 lakh crores, revealed that 91% of respondents reported higher or stable production levels, a significant jump from the 87% recorded in the previous quarter.

This surge in industrial confidence is largely driven b...