Investments by private equity and venture capital funds have declined by 1 per cent year-on-year to USD 13.5 billion in the March 2024 quarter, according to a report. However, it was 41 per cent higher compared to the preceding December quarter, the report by consultancy firm EY and industry lobby grouping IVCA said. When looked at from a volume perspective, the number of deals was 33 per cent higher at 292 in January-March 2024 against 220 in the year-ago period, it added. "We believe the markets and PE/VC investment activity will be range-bound till clarity emerges on election results and the risk of escalation in the geopolitical conflicts eases down," EY partner Vivek Soni said. The infrastructure sector received the maximum PE/VC investments in the quarter at USD 6.5 billion across 23 deals, 138 per cent higher than the USD 2.7 billion across 14 deals in the year-ago period, it said, adding that the same was led by the USD 2 billion investment by Brookfield in ATC India Tower