Private credit: Set to shed its high-risk, high-cost image

India's private credit market has experienced remarkable growth in the first half of 2025, reaching $9 billion across 79 transactions, nearly triple the volume in the preceding six months.

- L. VISWANATHAN & HARIHARAN KUMAR

This surge has been led by a landmark $3.1 billion transaction by a large Indian corporate, representing the largest onshore private credit deal in Indian history. The infrastructure sector has emerged as the primary beneficiary of this capital influx, followed by real estate and healthcare. This expansion reflects the growing significance of private credit.It bridges India's funding gap: The emergence of private credit in India can be traced to a confluence of factors that have created substantial opportunities for alternative lending, including regulatory restrictions on regulated entities from lending to specified business sectors. Traditional lenders have faced liquidity constraints, while financial sector crises, notably those involving IL&FS and DHFL, have left a lasting impact on conventional lending channels. These disruptions created a significant funding vacuum that private lenders have sought to fill.