The Evolution of Loan Syndication in India’s Banking Sector
The Evolution of Loan Syndication in India’s Banking Sector In the early days of India’s economic development, few would have guessed how central loan syndication would become to the country’s financial landscape. Yet today, it quietly powers some of the country’s largest infrastructure and corporate projects. From railways to airports to renewable energy parks, syndicated loans have emerged as one of the most reliable tools for channeling big money into big ideas. But this wasn’t always the case. In fact, the story of loan syndication in India is one of steady evolution—full of lessons, missteps, recalibrations, and resilience. A Humble Beginning: 1990s India Let’s rewind to the early 1990s—a crucial turning point for India. Faced with a serious balance of payments crisis, the government was forced to open up the economy. Liberalization policies rolled out fast: foreign investment was welcomed, tariffs were reduced, and the private sector got a new lease on life. But while econo...