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IL&FS Crisis Timeline: India's Infrastructure Debt Shock

IL&FS borrowed heavily against long-gestation infrastructure, defaulted in 2018 and was taken over by a government-appointed board on 1 October 2018. By 30 Jun…

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1987

IL&FS Is Established

Set up to raise long-term money for roads, energy, water and urban projects.

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BY MAR 2018

Debt Reaches About Rs 91,000 Crore

Around Rs 57,000 crore was owed to public-sector lenders, across 302 group entities.

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THE MODEL

From Project Loan to Default

Why long assets and short funding collide.

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JUN 2018

The First Domino

IL&FS Transportation Networks delayed about Rs 450 crore owed to SIDBI.

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21 JUL 2018

Founder Steps Down

The chairman of about 30 years resigned, citing health.

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4 SEP 2018

A Rs 1,000-Crore Loan Goes Unpaid

Downgrades followed across almost all the group's debt instruments.

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21 SEP 2018

A Market Rout

A mutual fund's sale of DHFL paper set off panic over short-term funding of long loans.

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90 DAYS

From a Missed Payment to a Takeover

June to October 2018.

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EXPOSURE

Why One Group Shook the Market

Public lenders, banks and funds.

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1 OCT 2018

Government Replaces the Board

A new board led by Uday Kotak was approved under sections 241 and 242.

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15 OCT 2018

NCLAT Stays Proceedings

All proceedings against IL&FS and its subsidiaries were stayed.

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30 NOV 2018

SFIO Interim Report

The first report went to the ministry; it reached the NCLT on 3 December.

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1 JAN 2019

Books Can Be Reopened

Accounts of IL&FS, IFIN and ITNL for five years could be recast.

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11 FEB 2019

Green Entities Can Pay Lenders

Twenty-two group companies were allowed to service their debt.

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12 MAR 2020

A Pro-Rata Framework

The tribunal accepted a pro-rata distribution framework for creditors.

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22 SEP 2020

Rating Agencies Fined Rs 1 Crore Each

ICRA, CARE and India Ratings had been fined Rs 25 lakh each in 2019.

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ACCOUNTABILITY

Probes, Penalties, Verdicts

Allegation, finding and verdict differ.

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31 MAY 2022

Interim Distributions Approved

About Rs 16,361 crore in cash and InvIT units, pro rata.

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16 JAN 2025

Consensual Unwinding Only

Circuitous transactions could be unwound where all sides agreed.

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13 APR 2026

NCLT Rejects the Plea

IL&FS could not unwind loans it had treated as valid since 2019.

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30 JUN 2026

NCLAT Revives the Plea

The NCLT order was set aside; disputed money stays in escrow.

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30 JUN 2026

Rs 50,387 Crore Discharged

About 83% of the Rs 61,000-crore target; 205 of 302 entities resolved.

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THE NUMBERS

Debt Against Recovery

Six figures, six meanings.

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THE ROUTES

How Rs 50,387 Crore Was Discharged

Three routes.

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OVER TIME

How Fast the Debt Is Discharged

Against the Rs 61,000-crore target.

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CASH IN HAND

Where the Cash Sits

Rs 7,259 crore, mostly not yet free.

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THE PROCESS

Sort, Sell, Distribute

Green, Amber, Red and the InvIT.

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28 SEP 2026

Supreme Court Stays the Order

The NCLAT's revival of IL&FS's plea is paused.

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THE DISPUTE

Three Decisions, None Final

The Rs 1,080-crore case.

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12 OCT 2026

New Chairman and MD

A retired IAS officer was designated for two years.

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