Bhai ko Diwali gift dena technically optional hai, but somehow everyone notices if you skip it. The unwritten rule in most families is that sisters gift sweets or dry fruits, brothers exchange something useful or edible, and nobody talks about how much was spent openly — but everyone calculates it privately. He's probably expecting either mithai or something he can actually use. The elaborate gift-wrapped box usually matters more to the giver than to him.
At ₹1,000–₹3,000 you're in the honest middle. Below ₹500, you're clearly outsourcing sentiment to a kirana. Above ₹3,000 for a sibling in the same household starts signalling something — either guilt or a favour pending. This tier covers premium dry fruit boxes, good chocolates, a decent wireless charger, or a quality candle set. The gift looks considered without announcing its price tag, which is exactly the right register for a brother.
The pitfall most people miss: if he's younger than you, anything too practical (think socks, stationery, pill organiser) reads as parental, not as sibling affection. And if he's older, overly trendy items can feel like you're pointing out an age gap. The sweet spot is gifting something he'd buy for himself but wouldn't prioritise — premium snacks, a small grooming kit, or a home fragrance product land cleanly here.