India is reportedly in talks with multilateral lenders to secure around $2.5 billion through existing credit lines. The move comes as New Delhi explores fresh sources of capital after the Middle East conflict has affected the government’s ability to increase spending.The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are discussing loans worth $1.5 billion and $1 billion respectively, with announcements expected within the next two months, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg. The funds are mainly intended to support urban infrastructure and job creation, they added.India and the World Bank Group had earlier announced an agreement outlining $8 billion to $10 billion in annual financing over five years. The latest proposed funding is expected to fall within that broader commitment.In a statement, the World Bank said it is in talks with the government for “possible support” to structural reforms aimed at boosting private sector employment and strengthening growth. The development comes as India faces a wider-than-expected budget gap at the start of the financial year, after increased spending on subsidies to cushion citizens from higher oil prices triggered by the Iran conflict. India imports more than 80% of its crude oil, and rising energy costs have increased government expenditure on fuel and fertiliser subsidies, limiting fiscal space for large-scale projects.The proposed funding is expected to support existing government programmes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration continues efforts to upgrade India’s infrastructure and advance urban renewal plans aimed at turning the country into a developed economy by 2047.The Asian Development Bank, based in the Philippines, has committed 683 public sector loans, grants and technical assistance packages worth a total of $63.8 billion to India as of the end of December.India is also the largest client of the World Bank Group, with nearly $37 billion in commitments from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation, according to the Washington-based institution’s website.
