<h1>India Allows Aviation Firms to Access $1 Billion in External Borrowings to Ease Financial Strain.</h1> The Indian government has permitted aviation companies to access External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) for one year to address working capital needs and refinance existing loans. This decision, announced by the Finance Minister, aims to ease financial pressures due to high operating costs, particularly fuel. The total ECB limit for the aviation sector is set at USD 1 billion, with individual airlines allowed up to USD 300 million. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will evaluate proposals based on cash flow and repayment capacity, and may relax maturity periods for ECBs exceeding USD 20 million. The RBI will issue further guidelines shortly.