India’s economic expansion is increasingly extending beyond its largest metropolitan centres, with several districts in northern and eastern states emerging as new hubs of activity, even as established metros continue to dominate overall rankings, according to a new report.The findings are based on the City Vitality Index (CVI), Q1 2026, released by Dun & Bradstreet, which uses satellite-based Earth Observation data to track economic activity across more than 700 districts in real time.

Ahmedabad tops overall rankings

Ahmedabad retained the top position in the overall rankings, while Bengaluru slipped to second place. Delhi climbed to third, marking one of the strongest upward movements among major metropolitan centres.Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai recorded modest declines but remained within the top 10.Among Class-Y emerging districts, North 24 Parganas secured the first position, followed by Thane and Jaipur, indicating stable performance among fast-growing urban centres.

Northern, eastern districts show sharp gains

“What stands out this quarter is the sharp upward mobility across several northern and eastern districts,” Arun Singh, global chief economist at Dun & Bradstreet, was quoted as saying by ET.“Cities such as Gurugram, Hooghly, Moradabad, Samastipur and Madhubani have posted some of the strongest rank improvements, while Gonda’s 20-place surge to overall rank 13 signals how infrastructure, agriculture and connectivity are reshaping local economies. These shifts indicate the rise of new growth poles beyond conventional urban centres,” he said.According to the report, Gurugram jumped 34 places in the rankings, while Hooghly and Moradabad rose 20 ranks each.The index highlights a broader trend of decentralised growth, with economic activity spreading into districts beyond traditional metropolitan strongholds, supported by improvements in infrastructure and connectivity.