Mundra hails fiscal roadmap, non-committal on rate cuts

Welcoming the government's adherence to the fiscal deficit goals in a "pragmatic and balanced" Budget, Reserve Bank deputy governor SS Mundra today said banks' consolidation should happen after balance-sheets of public sector banks are cleaned up.
"It is a pragmatic Budget, particularly if you look at the fiscal consolidation roadmap that the FM has very much adhered to. The thrust on rural economy and job creation are very positive for long-term benefits, the thrust on social and public investment should also be very important.
"Overall, it is a balanced Budget with a very long-term impact," Mundra told reporters today.
When asked if rate cuts are expected as the government borrowing will be contained as announced earlier, Mundra said, "wait for the announcement, whenever it happens. The next monetary policy is in April."

Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan had slashed repo rate by 0.25 per cent a day after the Budget last year.
In the run-up to this Budget, the Reserve Bank had explicitly said it was looking for action on the fiscal deficit front, and the government's commitment to keep the fiscal deficit number at 3.5 per cent of GDP for the next fiscal has heightened expectations of a rate cut.

Following the Budget, the benchmark government bond yields fell, signalling that the street is expecting a low interest rate regime, which will help corporates and retail borrowers alike. The bond yields have been on an upswing in recent weeks as talks of a lose fiscal policy gained momentum.

"I think we did indicate that everything needs right
sequencing. While consolidation can be meaningful, the work (bad debt clean-up) which is already at hand, has to reach a definite conclusion," he said, adding there is no specific discussion between the RBI and government on it as of now.
The RBI has done a one-off asset quality review of lenders' books and asked banks to recognise certain assets as non-performing ones so that the balance-sheets show the true quality. Banks have been given two quarters to recognise the stress, and the process is set to continue till March 2017.
Meanwhile, Mundra reiterated that there will not be a repeat of the asset quality review.

On bank recapitalisation provision of Rs 25,000 crore, he said it is lower than what was suggested by the RBI, but not worrisome as Jaitley has also committed to serve every need of the banks.
"We had indicated extra allocation which would have come handy for the banking system. Having said that, Jaitley has clearly mentioned, if there is a need to provide additional capital, the government will find resources. It is a clear and emphatic assurance which the finance minister has given," he said.
The capital provided now will work for the time being and if need arises, government will find a way afterwards, Mundra added.

He said other moves like operationalising the Banks Board Bureau is broadly in line with the moves in the 'Indradhanush' programme.