Rupa Rege Nitsure

The RBI is also concerned that the banks have turned to bulk deposits and certificates of deposit to mobilise funds, as retail deposits (both savings and term deposits) have become stagnant

Domestically, growth, especially in non-agricultural segments, is holding firm amid improved macro-financial stability

The real pressure point in today's GDP statistics is the "agriculture & allied activities" sector that has posted a growth of just 1.2 per cent (Y-o-Y) in Q2FY24, the lowest in the past 18 quarter

Our financial system needs more time for the broad-based transmission of the past concentrated increases in the repo rate (190 basis points in just four months)

Since the last policy announcement, inflationary risks have increased significantly

As India's early-stage recovery has been derailed by the second wave, the MPC will continue to focus on growth and maintain the status quo on policy rates and liquidity stance

Several disinflationary impulses are weighing on India's economic growth

Better monsoon rains after two back-to-back droughts and lingering weaknesses in manufacturing have again opened the case for aggressive rate cuts

The rate cut will encourage other players to follow suit. This should at least help struggling sectors like MSMEs, automobiles and housing finance, to some extent

A large body of theoretical literature and the experience of the past decades indicate that monetary policy's best contribution to economic stability is to maintain price stability

The RBI may revert to a more hawkish stance in August versus its stance in June

In the current scenario, is there a case for RBI to lower policy rates? Not much, as the core CPI still remains elevated around 7.9% versus 8.0% in November 13