India’s ambitious push for large-scale infrastructure growth is set to receive a major financing boost. The government is reportedly planning a Rs 200 billion risk guarantee fund to reduce uncertainty for investors and project developers.

The fund aims to instil confidence among lenders and private players by covering risks beyond commercial considerations. It will primarily address losses arising from policy changes, land acquisition delays, or environmental clearances, while commercial risks will remain the responsibility of developers. This measure is expected to encourage banks and financial institutions to expand credit exposure to new infrastructure projects.

The National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) is likely to manage the facility, underwriting development risks to enable smoother project financing. Talks are ongoing with public and private financial institutions, with the government providing initial funding. The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) has been tasked with submitting its recommendations within two weeks.

India’s infrastructure development requires substantial funding — estimated at $4.5 trillion by 2040 — to sustain economic growth. For 2025-26, the Centre has already allocated Rs 1,121 billion, equivalent to 3.1 per cent of GDP, for capital expenditure.

In this context, the Ministry of Finance has been consulting stakeholders to explore innovative financing solutions. On Thursday, Financial Services Secretary M. Nagaraju chaired discussions on addressing infrastructure funding bottlenecks, including the proposed guarantee mechanism.