Conditions favourable for interest rate cut: Shaktikanta Das

In his first interaction following his retirement, Das refuted criticism over the govt's supposed rush in GST roll-out

There was enough justification for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to cut the benchmark lending rates, feels former secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Union government, Shaktikanta Das. In a freewheeling discussion with Business Standard, a day after the RBI decided to hold the rates, he said: “the conditions are definitely very favourable for a reduction of interest rates”.

The secretary who has played a key role in the demonetisation programme of the government also refuted criticism that the goods and services tax (GST) should not have been rushed in, given the current state of the