India’s first maritime NBFC begins lending operations, sanctions ₹4,300 crore

January 1, 2026 10:11 AM

India’s first maritime NBFC begins lending operations, sanctions ₹4,300 crore

Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India’s first maritime-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC), has formally begun lending operations, sanctioning loans worth about ₹4,300 crore, marking a key step in strengthening the country’s maritime finance ecosystem. The loan sanctions were approved at the company’s 51st board meeting held on December 30, 2025. With this, SMFCL has entered the maritime lending space in line with its board-approved strategy. The move follows an ...

Loan against gold on the rise; RBI flags concerns over irregular practices in gold lending

January 2, 2025 12:27 PM

Loan against gold on the rise; RBI flags concerns over irregular practices in gold lending

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reported a sharp surge in gold loans across the country, reflecting an increasing dependence on gold as collateral to meet financial needs. According to the RBI's report, gold loans saw significant growth in the period ending September 2024 compared to the same period a year earlier. "Gold loans have clocked rapid growth in the period ending September 2024 as compared to a year ago," the RBI said, underscoring the growing popularity of this financial instrume...

AIF investments in India at Rs 4.49 lakh crore in H1 FY25, real estate dominates: report

December 2, 2024 3:36 PM

AIF investments in India at Rs 4.49 lakh crore in H1 FY25, real estate dominates: report

India attracted approximately Rs 4.5 lakh crore in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) during the first half (H1) of the 2024-25 financial year, driven by strong economic growth among large economies. According to the latest SEBI data compiled by ANAROCK Research, of the total Rs 4,49,384 crore in AIF investments made across various sectors till H1 FY2025, real estate held the largest share at 17%, totaling nearly Rs 75,468 crore. Other sectors benefiting from AIF investments include IT/ITeS (...