Why it is in the news
Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd (SMFCL), India's first maritime-sector NBFC, plans to issue the country's first blue bond on 28 September 2026, raising up to ₹600 crore — including a greenshoe option of ₹500 crore — through 10-year bonds rated AA+ by ICRA and CARE, with SBI Capital Markets as arranger. Proceeds are meant for maritime lending, including greenfield port projects and the coastal road network.
The exam angle
Thesis: Blue bonds can mobilise long-term private capital for India's maritime ambitions, but only if the blue label is backed by credible impact standards.