India Inc pays record dividends in FY26, but payout ratio slides

In FY26, Indian firms made history by distributing a staggering ₹4.5 lakh crore in dividends, marking a remarkable 15% annual growth rate over five years. A significant portion of these dividends, two-thirds, came from the banking, finance, and IT sectors. Notably, the dividend payout ratio has tapered to a five-year low of 27%, indicating that a smaller share of profits is now being returned to shareholders as dividends.