India's private sector manufacturing activity showed recovery in April, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) climbing to 54.7, up from 53.9 in March. This increase indicates continued expansion, although it marks the second slowest improvement in nearly four years. The rise in PMI was driven by a surge in new export orders, which expanded at the fastest rate in seven months. However, the sector faces significant challenges, including rising input costs that reached their highest level since August 2022, largely due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The survey highlighted that manufacturers have been compelled to increase their prices to cope with these cost pressures. Despite these hurdles, the PMI has remained above the neutral threshold of 50 for 54 consecutive months, reflecting ongoing growth in manufacturing activity.