🇮🇳 Blackstone’s bet on India

Good morning. It’s going to be a great day - go get this bread 💪 

- Ruchirr Sharma & Shatakshi Sharmaa  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 🇮🇳 Blackstone’s bet on India

• 📡 Starlink’s India trajectory

• 🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

  • ✈️ Riyadh x Air India

  • 📈 Top IPO market

• 🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

• 🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

MARKETS

🇮🇳 India

• Markets ended flat after a volatile session. IT stocks dragged indices lower, while auto and banking sectors provided support. Investors remained cautious amid global uncertainties and sustained FII selling pressure

🌍️ International

• US stocks saw mixed results as softer inflation data boosted tech stocks like Nvidia (+6.4%) and Tesla (+7%), but lingering concerns over trade wars and tariffs weighed on the Dow Jones, which fell 0.2%.

PAYMENTS

🇮🇳 Blackstone’s bet on India

Blackstone, the global private equity giant, has reaffirmed its confidence in India’s economy despite global uncertainties, including US-imposed tariffs. Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman recently announced the firm’s expansion into India’s infrastructure and credit sectors, targeting investments in ports, airports, and road assets.

Why this matters:

• India remains an attractive destination for global investors, backed by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and a stable investment climate.

• Blackstone has invested over $50 billion in the country over two decades, yielding some of its highest returns worldwide.

• Schwarzman’s endorsement signals continued faith in India’s long-term growth trajectory, even as global markets face turbulence.

Despite concerns over US tariffs, Schwarzman believes India is well positioned to handle their impact. His confidence stems from India’s proactive trade negotiations and economic adaptability. A recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump resulted in a favorable trade framework for India, minimizing disruptions.

Blackstone’s decision to invest in infrastructure aligns with India’s ambitious growth plans. The government has prioritized infrastructure development to enhance connectivity, boost trade, and attract further investments. Additionally, its entry into the corporate credit space will support businesses in acquisitions and strategic investments where traditional banking falls short.

Implications for India

1. Boost to Infrastructure: Investments in ports, roads, and airports will enhance logistics efficiency and economic expansion.

2. Foreign Investment Confidence: Blackstone’s commitment reassures global investors about India’s stability and long-term potential.

3. Economic Resilience: Despite global uncertainties, India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy, making it a preferred destination for capital.

Overall: Schwarzman’s optimism highlights India’s evolving investment landscape. With improving exit opportunities, reduced bureaucratic hurdles, and a growing appetite for large-scale deals, India is positioned as a long-term winner in the global economy. Blackstone’s continued presence reinforces this belief, signaling brighter prospects for infrastructure, credit, and foreign investments in India.

Read more: Economic Times

MARKETS

📡 Starlink’s India trajectory

India’s telecom landscape is set for a major shift as SpaceX’s Starlink partners with Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel to offer satellite-based internet services.

Why does this matter?

• Unlike conventional wireless networks that rely on cell towers, Starlink operates through a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, ensuring internet access even in remote and underserved regions.

• With speeds up to 250 Mbps and lower latency, it has the potential to bridge India’s digital divide, particularly in areas where traditional infrastructure is lacking.

Starlink isn’t the only player in the satellite internet space. Airtel already offers services through its partnership with OneWeb, while Amazon’s Project Kuiper and HughesNet are also developing satellite broadband solutions. The competition could drive innovation and affordability in India’s connectivity sector.

What does this mean for India?

1. With over 700 million people lacking stable internet access, Starlink’s technology could revolutionize digital inclusion, particularly in geographically challenging regions like the Himalayas and remote villages.

2. Improved connectivity can boost rural businesses, enable remote education, and enhance healthcare access through telemedicine.

3. Satellite internet can provide crucial connectivity in disaster-affected areas where traditional networks fail.

Looking ahead: Despite its promise, Starlink faces regulatory hurdles, including spectrum allocation and data localization requirements. Affordability is another concern—current hardware costs range between ₹25,000-₹35,000, with monthly subscriptions at ₹5,000-₹7,000, far higher than India’s average broadband costs.

For Starlink to succeed in India, SpaceX may need to introduce region-specific pricing or collaborate with government-backed initiatives. If these challenges are addressed, satellite internet could play a big role in India’s digital future, ensuring connectivity for millions who remain offline today.

Read more: Economic Times

GENERAL OVERVIEW

🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

✈️ Riyadh x Air India - Riyadh Air, set to launch later this year, plans to partner with Air India and IndiGo to expand in the Indian market. The airline aims to improve connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia, tapping into India's growing air travel demand. Riyadh Air will initially operate 60 A321 neos and 72 B787-9 Dreamliners, with plans to expand its fleet. By 2030, it hopes to connect Saudi Arabia to over 100 destinations. India, a key aviation market, saw 1.5 million tourists visit Saudi Arabia last year, making these partnerships crucial for Riyadh Air’s growth.

📈 Top IPO market - Nandan Nilekani, Infosys co-founder, predicts India will be the world's top IPO market in the next decade. Speaking at Arkam Ventures’ annual meet, he outlined four key factors to reach an $8 trillion economy by 2035: technology, capital, entrepreneurship, and formalization. He emphasized AI’s role in education and agriculture, rising retail investor participation, and digitization to reduce inequality. Nilekani also highlighted land tokenization for financial growth. To unlock this potential, he urged faster capital flow, MSME support, portable credentials, and deregulation to boost ease of business. Many startups, like Zepto and PhonePe, are already returning to India.

HEADLINES

🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

What’s happening in India (and around the world 🌍️)

• Sunita Williams' return to Earth: Elon Musk's SpaceX Crew-10 mission to head to ISS today.

• India must charge up non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 600 GW by 2030 to avoid dimming lights.

• China starts training six-year-olds in AI to develop future tech leaders like DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng.

• Trump's 25% tariffs on all steel, aluminum imports go into effect.

CULTURE

🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

• Sadie Sink joins Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4.

• The Perfect Couple set to become anthology series with season 2 in works at Netflix.

• Shanaya Kapoor and Abhay Verma begin shooting for Shujaat Saudagar's new film.