New Delhi, Oct. 26 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said demand for locally-made or swadeshi products has surged this festive season, with savings from goods and services tax cuts adding to the momentum. In his Mann Ki Baat radio address, he said there was a "tremendous" growth in the purchase of indigenous goods under the 'GST Bachat Utsav', reflecting the success of his 'Vocal for Local' campaign.

His remarks come amid record Diwali sales of Rs.6.05 trillion-the highest ever, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on 21 October-with 87% of consumers opting for Indian-made goods over imports.

"There is a lot of enthusiasm among people regarding the GST Bachat Utsav. This time, something equally pleasant was...