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Why RBI cannot pay Rs 3.6 trillion to govt

Neither the foreign exchange, nor the gold, and certainly not the revaluation reserve should be available for spending by anyone

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A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) logo is seen at the gate of its office in New Delhi. Photo: Reuters

Rashmin C Sanghvi
Media claims that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has a reserve of Rs 9.6 trillion. The government wants a portion of this money to be transferred to it for its expenses. Let us examine the accounting and economic details. As per the balance sheet of the RBI, the total share capital and reserves are Rs 67.26 billion. There is no other reserve on the balance sheet. All the amounts actually represent liabilities payable, or provisions made by the RBI. 

The RBI’s contingency fund of Rs 2,321.08 billion is a provision. There are assets of equivalent value with the RBI. Hence
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