Addressing India’s Infrastructure Barriers

Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I am a Chartered engineer with 52 years of extensive experience across hydropower, tunnels, cement, fertiliser, coal mining, underground opencast, hotels, reality, roads, and almost all types of infrastructure. I retired as President of Jaiprakash Associates, one of the largest infrastructure companies, and as a director of MPJML.

Currently self-employed, providing need-based consultancy services to infrastructure and manufacturing companies with a focus on safety, quality compliance, energy conservation, environment protection.

Have conducted seminars/workshops on energy conservation, environmental protection, and technological upgradation in equipment manufacturing and execution methodologies.

Q2. With the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) active in 2026, how much will 'environment protection' compliance costs squeeze the net margins for Indian fertilizer and cement exporters to the EU?

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) becomes fully active on January 1, 2026, forcing Indian exporters of high-carbon goods like cement and fertilizers to pay for embedded emissions, significantly squeezing net margins. This policy aims to equalize carbon costs between EU producers and imports, with estimated tax burdens on Indian exports reaching 19.8% to 52.7%, forcing a shift toward greener,…