City Vitality Index Q2 2025: India's Urban Growth Narrative

Dun & Bradstreet's City Vitality Index for Q2 2025 uses satellite data to assess economic activity in Indian cities, highlighting growth influenced by cultural events and infrastructure. Prayagraj saw significant growth due to the Maha Kumbh Mela. Emerging economic centers in tier-2 and tier-3 cities are reshaping India's urban landscape.

Dun & Bradstreet has unveiled the City Vitality Index (CVI) for Q2 2025, revealing vibrant urban economic dynamics across India. Leveraging NASA's Black Marble dataset, the CVI provides near real-time insights into economic activities in over 700 Indian districts.

Highlights from the report include a dramatic economic swell in Prayagraj, driven by the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, which attracted more than 660 million attendees. This influx resulted in Prayagraj climbing 40 positions in the CVI rankings, with substantial gains in tourism, hospitality, and local commerce.

The index also notes significant economic upliftment in other cities like Varanasi, Kanpur, and Lucknow, due to improved infrastructure and connectivity. These developments emphasize new growth centers in India's tier-2 and tier-3 cities, marking a shift from traditional urban growth engines.

(With inputs from agencies.)