RBI stipulates additional CRR to suck out surplus liquidity

In a step to suck out the surplus liquidity from banking system following demonetisation of 500/1,000 rupee notes, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday levied additional cash reserve ratio (CRR) for banks.

According to RBI, the banks have to maintain an incremental CRR of 100 per cent on the increase in net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) between September 16, 2016 and November 11, 2016.

The additional CRR directive is effective from Saturday/November 26, 2016.

Simply put CRR is the percentage of the total deposit that banks have to keep with RBI.

The central bank reiterated that the CRR continues to remain at four per cent of outstanding NDTL.

The RBI will review the incremental CRR on December 9 or earlier.

Post demonetisation of the two high value notes, there has been a surge in bank deposits in relation to the expansion of bank credit, leading to large excess liquidity in the system.

"The magnitude of surplus liquidity available with the banking system is expected to increase further in the fortnights ahead," the RBI said.

As a result the RBI has decided to absorb a part of this surplus liquidity by applying an incremental CRR as a temporary measure.

The increased liquidity is due to the return of invalid notes into the banking system by way of deposits by account holders.

According to RBI, the incremental CRR will absorb only the excess liquidity while leaving sufficient funds with the banks to lend to productive sectors of the economy.

The central bank also said that it has revived the Guarantee Scheme to enable deposit of banned notes with it or at currency chests and get immediate value.

This measure should also facilitate banks' compliance with the incremental CRR.

--IANS

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