The global recession originated from the US sub-prime mortgage crisis where risky loans were given to borrowers with poor credit. This led to a stock market crash and decline in exports for India. The Indian economy was impacted through a weakening rupee, cash crunch for banks, job losses, and lower salaries. While India's growth rate slowed, it was still expected to grow at 7% annually. The recession presented both challenges like higher inflation and opportunities for India to demonstrate its ability to grow independently.