Swiggy Instamart has fired the first shot in India’s festive e-commerce wars, launching its ‘Quick India Movement’ sale from September 19 to 28—beating Amazon’s Great Indian Festival and Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sales by several days. For 10 days, consumers will see 50–90% discounts on over 50,000 products, ranging from electronics and beauty to toys and kitchenware. Brand highlights include Apple (with the new iPhone 17), OnePlus, Oppo, Philips, boAt, JBL, L’Oréal, Barbie, and LEGO, all delivered to doorsteps within just 10 minutes in select locations.
Value hunters can stack further savings by paying via Axis Bank credit cards, which unlock an extra 10% discount. Instamart’s timing is strategic—capturing demand before Amazon and Flipkart’s sales begin on September 23, and coinciding perfectly with new GST reforms that lower costs for categories like footwear, apparel, and electronics.
Amazon and Flipkart Prepare for Head-to-Head Showdown
This year, Amazon’s Great Indian Festival and Flipkart’s Big Billion Days open simultaneously, ramping up competition for shoppers’ wallets.
- Amazon’s Great Indian Festival: Starts September 23, runs until Diwali, with up to 90% off on sitewide categories. Exclusive early access for Prime members, extra 10% SBI card discounts, buy-now-pay-later deals, and a wave of new launches across fashion, electronics, home, and kitchen. GST invoice support enables businesses to save up to 28% through input credit.
- Flipkart’s Big Billion Days: Also kicks off September 23. The sale promises up to 85% off on mobiles (iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S24, and more), plus discounts on laptops, TVs, appliances, and fashion. Special offers include double discounts via Axis and ICICI bank tie-ups, with early access for Flipkart Plus and Black members. New product launches (like Galaxy Tab S11, S25 FE) and exchange bonuses are in the spotlight.
Read this: Read this: Flipkart’s Big Billion Days Vs Amazon’s Great Indian Festival: What to Expect
GST Reforms and Sector Growth
The GST Council’s new two-slab structure lowers rates for high-demand goods, directly improving affordability. Electronics, shoes, apparel, and appliances moving to lower duty rates mean deeper discounts and higher intent to buy. Analysts predict these reforms, combined with festive sale intensity, will send online retail up 27–30% year-on-year, with overall e-commerce spending set to reach ~₹1.2 lakh crore.
Quick-commerce platforms like Instamart, Zepto, and Blinkit are projected to see their share of online festive sales jump to 12% this year as they blur lines with traditional e-commerce—leveraging speed, variety, and timing to capture impulse buys and everyday essentials.
Both Amazon and Flipkart have rolled out massive seasonal recruitment campaigns while opening new fulfillment centers, sort centers, and delivery hubs across the country. This comes as shoppers prepare for mega events like Diwali, the Great Indian Festival, and Big Billion Days. Together, they have created over 3.7 lakh seasonal roles this year. What are these roles? Check full information.
Final Thoughts
This September, Instamart’s early and aggressive entry has raised the bar for India’s festive sale season—making quick commerce the new battleground for consumer attention. Amazon and Flipkart, meanwhile, prep for a direct showdown, stacked with fresh product launches, member perks, and GST-fueled discounts. For shoppers, it’s the busiest—and most budget-friendly—festive season yet. For India’s e-commerce players, it’s a race to redefine convenience, value, and customer delight for the year ahead.
