India's Urban Growth Broadens: Dun & Bradstreet's City Vitality Index Highlights New Economic Frontiers

Ahmednagar Leads Emerging Cities; Bengaluru Holds Metro Top Spot

MUMBAI, India, Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dun & Bradstreet, a global leader in business decisioning data and analytics, has released the City Vitality Index – Q4 2025, offering a granular view of India's urban economy. Powered by satellite-based Earth Observation (EO) data, the Index tracks real-time economic activity across 700+ districts, spotlighting both established metros and rising non-metropolitan hubs.

"India's urban momentum is increasingly decentralized," said Dr. Arun Singh, Global Chief Economist, Dun & Bradstreet. "Ahmednagar's rise to the top among emerging cities, driven by agro-industrial strength, and the continued dominance of Bengaluru among metros, reflect a dual narrative — one of legacy strength and frontier expansion."

With India's economic growth moderating in Jun-Sep quarter, the CVI reveals how urban centers are adapting — with smaller cities showing resilience and metros consolidating their roles as innovation and service hubs.

Highlights of the City Vitality Index:

Metropolitan Cities (Class-X)

• Bengaluru retained the top spot, reaffirming its tech leadership.
• Ahmedabad ranked second, driven by manufacturing and Special Economic Zone activity.
• Pune held third, maintaining growth momentum despite slipping one position.
• Hyderabad climbed two spots to fifth, reflecting IT and pharma expansion.

Emerging Cities (Class-Y)

• Ahmednagar (MH) surged to No. 1, up four places, fueled by sugarcane farming, dairy cooperatives, and agro-processing.
• Prayagraj (UP) held second, supported by cultural tourism and infrastructure upgrades.
• North 24 Parganas (WB), Thane (MH), and Kachchh (GJ) rounded out the top five, with Kachchh rising on port-led growth and mineral exports.

Notable Movers

• Deoria (UP) jumped 40 places to rank 14, driven by agricultural expansion.
• Kushinagar (UP) rose 62 places, reflecting tourism-led growth and infrastructure development.

State-Level Trends

• Uttar Pradesh continued to dominate with multiple cities in the top 25, underscoring its regional development push.
• Maharashtra and West Bengal showed strong representation, with cities like Thane, Nashik, and South 24 Parganas maintaining high ranks.

City Vitality Index – A Strategic Lens on Urban India

"The CVI's 84% correlation with nominal GDP — and nearly 99% in highly urbanized districts — makes it a powerful tool for tracking economic shifts," Dr. Singh added. "As India's growth engines diversify, CVI helps decode where opportunity is emerging — from agro-clusters to tech corridors. By integrating satellite data with economic fundamentals, the City Vitality Index guides policymakers, investors, and businesses in navigating India's evolving urban economy.

To know more about City Vitality Index, click here.

About Dun & Bradstreet:

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