Eight Indian states successfully raised ₹128 billion through State Development Loans (SDLs), meeting their targeted borrowing for the week. The Reserve Bank of India set competitive cut-off and implicit yields across tenors, with Maharashtra’s long-dated bonds and Odisha’s 24-year issuance drawing notable interest. The auction reflects stable demand and pricing discipline.
India’s weekly State Development Loan (SDL) auction concluded with eight states collectively raising ₹128 billion, precisely matching the targeted issuance. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released detailed cut-off and implicit yield data, indicating robust investor appetite and stable pricing across maturities. The auction featured a mix of long-duration and mid-term bonds, with Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and others participating.
Major Takeaways:
Total Borrowing: Eight states raised ₹128 billion, in line with the notified amount, signaling disciplined borrowing and strong demand from institutional investors.
Maharashtra SDLs – Long-Term Focus:
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7.16% SDL 2055: Implicit yield at 7.2978%
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7.16% SDL 2050: Implicit yield at 7.3072%
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7.26% SDL 2041: Implicit yield at 7.2501%
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7.27% SDL 2036: Implicit yield at 7.1704% These yields reflect investor confidence in Maharashtra’s fiscal stability and long-term debt servicing capacity.
Odisha Bonds – Mixed Tenors:
24-Year SDL: Cut-off yield at 7.28%
8-Year SDL: Cut-off yield at 7.08% Odisha’s dual-tenor strategy attracted diverse investor profiles, balancing long-term and medium-term demand.
Other State Cut-Offs:
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Telangana: 7.30%
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Uttar Pradesh: 7.12%
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Gujarat: 7.07%
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Tamil Nadu: 6.58%
Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir: 7.31% These rates reflect regional fiscal dynamics and investor risk assessments.
Notable Updates:
Yield Curve Insights: The spread between Tamil Nadu’s 6.58% and Bihar’s 7.31% cut-off highlights varying credit perceptions and demand elasticity across states.
Market Sentiment: The auction’s full subscription and competitive pricing suggest continued confidence in SDLs as a stable investment class amid macroeconomic uncertainties.
Policy Context: SDLs remain a key instrument for state-level capital expenditure, and RBI’s transparent pricing mechanism supports efficient debt market functioning.
This week’s SDL auction underscores the maturity of India’s sub-sovereign debt market, with states leveraging long-duration instruments to fund infrastructure and development while maintaining investor trust.
Sources: 1. Reserve Bank of India Press Release 2. CCIL SDL Quarterly Report