Moody's Ratings on Tuesday said rated Indian companies will spend USD 45-50 billion annually over the next 1-2 years towards capex as companies boost capacity, with the country's most valued firm Reliance Industries alone accounting for 30% of the spendings.

The global ratings agency highlighted that the worsening water scarcity could intensify economic volatility in India, affecting sectors heavily reliant on water such as coal power generators and steel-makers. Moody's noted that India's economy is expected to grow at 6.5% in 2024, outpacing other G20 economies, but this growth comes with heightened water consumption challenges.

Moody's emphasized that India, along with Indonesia and the Philippines, led the region in terms of growth during the first half of 2024. This robust performance is expected to continue, driven by rising exports, strong local demand, and significant government spending on infrastructure.

Moody’s anticipates strong credit demand and robust economic growth to strengthen the profitability of non-bank finance companies (NBFCs). According to Moody's, the Indian economy is expected to have expanded by 8% in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Moody's report emphasized India's large and diversified economy, high growth potential, relatively sound external position, and stable domestic financing base for government debt. However, it also noted challenges such as high general government debt, weak debt affordability, and low per capita income.

Highlighting the role of domestic demand as the primary driver of growth across several G20 emerging markets, Moody's suggested that growth cycles in India and Indonesia are currently at their peak, while Brazil and Mexico are likely past theirs. However, it expects relatively stable growth at close to potential levels in 2024 and 2025 for most G20 emerging markets.

Moody's Investor Service, a leading global ratings agency, has revised its gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for India, reflecting the nation's impressive economic performance in recent quarters. The agency now anticipates a sturdy growth trajectory extending into 2024.