Page 9 - Rbi

Bank lending in India hits two-year high as firms favour loans over bonds

Credit growth expanded at 16.2 per cent in the year through May 15, the fastest clip since June 2024, according to the Reserve Bank of India data

RBI dismisses gold sale rumours, physical reserves steady at 880.52 tonnes

Debunking reports of gold sale, the Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday said there is no change in the physical stock of gold, which remains unchanged at 880.52 tonnes. The clarification from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) comes following reports that the RBI may have sold gold amounting to approximately USD 12 billion to shield its foreign-currency reserves from the impact of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. "The RBI emphasises that these reports are not correct," the central bank said in a statement. Members of the public are, therefore, advised to rely on official information published by the RBI from time to time in such matters, it said. Meanwhile, the Press Information Bureau also published a fact-check on the reports. According to @RBI, the share of gold in India's foreign exchange reserves rose from 13.92 per cent at the end of September 2025 to 16.70 per cent on March 31, 2026, and further to 16.85 per cent as of May 22, 2026, it said.

Rupee weakness unlikely to trigger RBI rate hike; inflation in focus

Economists expect the RBI to keep rates unchanged and rely on intervention and regulatory measures to manage rupee volatility while maintaining focus on inflation

RBI may maintain status quo in June, hike rates twice in FY27: Economists

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to keep the benchmark repo rate unchanged in the June monetary policy review, according to a PTI poll of economists and treasury heads. Most of the respondents expect the central bank to resume policy tightening later in FY27 amid mounting inflation risks. Of the respondents surveyed, 11 expect the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to maintain the status quo on rates in the upcoming policy to be announced on Friday, while four foresee a 0.25 per cent hike. "Pause because headline inflation remains below the 4 per cent target. The RBI has policy space to wait to see the second round impact on inflation from the fuel price hike. Flexible inflation target provides policy space to look through the first round impact of supply side shocks," said Gaura Sengupta, economist at IDFC First Bank. The MPC will meet between June 3 and June 5 to decide on the policy rates. The central bank has reduced the repo rate by 1.25 per cent since last year to aid .

Best of BS Opinion: Why India must leave retrospective taxes behind

From retrospective taxation and quality reforms to polymer notes, exam glitches and middle-class stress, today's opinion pages examine key policy challenges

RBI staff strength falls for first time in five years, down 2.2% in FY26

The Reserve Bank of India's workforce declined to 13,220 in FY26, marking the first fall in five years, even as employee expenditure rose on higher pension-related costs

Now, over a third of term deposits ₹5 crore+ accounts: RBI data

Large-ticket deposits are gaining prominence as banks struggle to mobilise retail savings, increasing reliance on a small pool of high-value depositors

Plastic currency: Switching to polymer bank notes can help manage costs

Polymer notes are made of a thin plastic substrate that is more resistant to moisture, dirt and tearing

Harassed by loan recovery agents? What borrowers can do under RBI rules

Recovery agent harassment: Your rights, RBI rules, and steps to take if loan collection turns abusive

Weekly policy watch: RBI MPC, GDP data, US trade talks in focus this week

India's policy calendar this week is packed with the RBI's June review, FY26 GDP data, India-US trade talks, GST numbers, PMI readings and fuel export levy changes

Indian bond yields may rise further on rate hike fears, fiscal concerns

The benchmark 10-year yield is up about 34 basis points to 7 per cent since the outbreak of the Iran war three months ago

States' mkt borrowing share in deficit funding rises to 76.3% in FY26: RBI

Borrowing programme for 2026-27 would be managed in an orderly manner, keeping in view fiscal deficit goals and evolving market conditions

New bad loan provision measures will tell banks apart under ECL regime

RBI's ECL regime will shift the focus from recognising bad loans to predicting them, making risk management a key differentiator for banks

Credit score models are undergoing a transformation: Subhankar Mishra

More frequent credit bureau updates are reshaping underwriting, helping lenders curb loan stacking and assess borrowers with greater precision

Weekly economy wrap: Fuel costs and trade talks drive policy week

From fuel costs to cotton duty relief and mining reforms, the week showed how global volatility is shaping India's inflation and trade response

US-Iran talks, RBI's rate decision likely to steer markets this week

Developments around the USIran situation, crude oil prices, and the RBI's interest rate decision would determine the trend in the equity market in an event-heavy week ahead, analysts said. Besides, macroeconomic data announcements, trading activity of foreign investors and the rupee-dollar trend would act as key drivers for equities, they noted. "Participants will closely monitor global developments surrounding the USIran situation and movement in crude oil prices, which continue to remain critical for inflation expectations, currency stability, and foreign flows," Ajit Mishra SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said. The final HSBC Manufacturing PMI reading for May will be announced on Monday, followed by the Services PMI and Composite PMI data on Wednesday. These indicators will provide important insights into demand trends, business activity, and growth resilience across sectors, he said. "The key event of the week will be the RBI monetary policy announcement on Friday," Mishr

Net household financial savings rise to 7% of GNDI in FY25: RBI report

Net household financial savings increased to 7 per cent of GNDI in FY25 as a sharp decline in financial liabilities outweighed a moderation in gross financial savings

'Strong preference' for cash use despite digital payments growth

Despite rapid growth in digital payments, RBI's survey found that households and small retailers continue to prefer cash, while currency in circulation rose strongly in FY26

RBI plans cross-border CBDC pilots amid digital currency experiments

Central bank will expand digital rupee experiments in 2026-27, focusing on cross-border payments, asset tokenisation, programmable money and welfare applications

RBI weighs adding 'frictions' to digital payments to tackle online fraud

Central bank is exploring transaction delays, broader customer controls and a kill switch mechanism as digital payment frauds continue to rise in value