New Delhi, May 1 -- India's wait for a boom in private-sector capital expenditure has been like 'waiting for Godot,' to borrow the title of a Samuel Beckett play about endless anticipation. Last year's flickers of hope are expected to dim in 2025-26, going by the Forward-Looking Survey on Private Sector Capex Investment Intentions, a first-of-its-kind exercise by the government, which released its findings on Tuesday.

The survey projects intended private capex at almost Rs.4.9 trillion this fiscal year, about a quarter less than last year's plans. The slump reflects "cautious planning after a strong 2024-25," according to the statistics ministry. Every sector does not foresee a spending dip, though. Manufacturers plan to raise their inve...