Neelkanth Mishra, the newly appointed Executive Director at the World Bank, has stated that concerns about crude oil price shocks derailing India's economic growth are largely unfounded. In an interview, he highlighted that India is in a better position than many energy-importing nations to handle rising oil prices. Despite facing fiscal and monetary challenges, India's economy grew by 7.1% in FY25, and Mishra projects growth could exceed 8% until early 2026. Key indicators, such as a 29% year-on-year increase in car sales and robust cement demand, signal economic strength. Mishra explained that India's oil marketing companies benefit from refining margins, which mitigates the impact of higher crude prices. He noted that while oil at USD 100/barrel could slow growth by 2%, the economy is expected to rebound as oil prices stabilize around USD 80/barrel. Overall, Mishra believes that India's combination of strong domestic demand and refining capabilities will sustain growth rates between 7.5% and 8%, even amidst elevated crude prices.