Telangana’s industrial growth under Congress trails pandemic-era levels

Hyderabad: Telangana’s industrial performance under the Congress government fell below the levels recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic under the BRS regime, particularly in employment generation.

Official TG-iPASS data show that the number of jobs created through industries facilitated by the government fell 38.5 per cent in 2024-25 compared with the previous year. The decline came despite the Congress government’s high-profile investment promotion campaigns. Employment rose by a marginal 3 per cent in 2025-26 against the previous year but remained below the figures recorded in both pandemic years.

The year-on-year comparison is revealing. In 2019-20, when the Covid-19 crisis began, Telangana facilitated 2,591 industrial units, attracted investments of Rs 11,930.48 crore and generated 59,261 jobs. Investments rose 76.7 per cent over the previous year, while employment declined by 2.2 per cent. In 2020-21, despite the pandemic and lockdown disruptions, the State facilitated 2,994 units, a 15.6 per cent increase, and generated 57,096 jobs. Investments stood at Rs 8,539.75 crore, registering a 28.4 per cent decline.

The BRS government subsequently recorded stronger growth. In 2021-22, industrial units increased 17.7 per cent to 3,523, investments rose 64.3 per cent to Rs 14,031.59 crore and employment jumped 54.3 per cent to 88,110. In 2022-23, although the number of units and jobs declined by 20.2 per cent and 11.6 per cent, respectively, investments grew 25 per cent to Rs 17,538.95 crore. In 2023-24, investments surged 40.8 per cent to Rs 24,690.69 crore, while employment increased 3.5 per cent to 80,583.

The trend reversed under the Congress. In 2024-25, the number of units fell 19.6 per cent to 2,005, investments plunged 52.5 per cent to Rs 11,719.90 crore and employment dropped 38.5 per cent to 49,523. In 2025-26, units recovered 7.7 per cent to 2,160, but investments declined another 12.7 per cent to Rs 10,236.76 crore. Employment rose just 3 per cent to 51,005, still below the 59,261 jobs generated in 2019-20 and the 57,096 in 2020-21.

The data point to a gap between the Congress government’s investment claims and actual industrial outcomes. Over the past two years, the government promoted Telangana as an investment destination through events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Global Summit, announcing commitments worth lakhs of crores. However, the TG-iPASS figures show that these high-profile efforts have yet to translate into a corresponding rise in industrial units and employment.

The latest 2026-27 data indicate the realisation of 1,351 units, investments of Rs 17,998.26 crore and employment for 36,704 people. However, the period covered is not specified. Around 1,146 proposals are under process, involving projected investments of Rs 1,45,546.09 crore and potential employment of 86,250. These are pending proposals, not realised investments or jobs, and should not be counted as achievements.