This paper is one of the first papers to examine the relationship between managerial network and strategic orientation in SMEs in a developing economy like India. The outcome of this paper provides strategic direction to the top managers in Indian SME as the economy is undergoing a transition phase and likely to be threatened by the transitional economic effect. The study results support the positive and significant influence of strategic orientation in Indian SMEs. The top managers of Indian SMEs are more likely to build managerial networks when their emphasis on market orientation (customer orientation, competitor orientation and inter-functional orientation) increases. Similarly both business network and political networks in Indian SMEs are significantly and positively related to technology orientation i.e. when Indian SMEs emphasize more on technology orientation, the top managers tend to build more managerial ties. When Indian SMEs emphasize more on entrepreneurship orientation they are likely to build managerial networks. This study also found that the moderating role of competitive intensity in the relationship between managerial networking and strategic orientation. It was noticed that competitive intensity negatively moderates the relationship between strategic orientation and managerial networks.