Page 7 - Reserve Bank Of India

SBI chief backs rate pause, says India's growth story goes beyond Sensex

C S Setty urges investors to focus on India's long-term structural transformation rather than short-term market movements

RBI denies reports of gold sale, says holdings remain unchanged

The physical stock of gold remained the same since April 03, 2026

Gold overtakes US treasuries as largest reserve asset: Why it matters

Gold now accounts for a larger share of official global reserves than US Treasuries, reflecting rising central bank demand and a changing financial landscape

RBI, Sebi tightens checks on overseas flows as currency pressure mounts

In a rare move, the RBI has sent at least 10 queries to ascertain whether funds were routed overseas without a clear business purpose or tangible asset backing

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.

Policy complexity: RBI MPC will have to reckon with several moving parts

With oil prices elevated and monsoon risks looming, the RBI is expected to hold rates steady while reassessing inflation and growth forecasts

Soiled note disposal by RBI falls sharply in FY26 due to machine upgrades

The central bank disposed of 17 billion soiled and mutilated banknotes in FY26, down from 22.9 billion a year earlier, as replacement of shredding systems disrupted processing operations

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

Iran war puts RBI in razor-edge policy bind over inflation, growth, rupee

The rupee has tumbled ​to record lows since the Iran war broke out at the end of February

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

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

Bond forwards replace FRAs for insurers; SDLs become preferred choice

Insurers are increasingly shifting to bond forwards linked to state development loans, attracted by higher yields and the RBI's new framework for managing interest-rate risk

RBI MPC meet: Amid inflation, growth concerns, rate hike can wait for now

Inflation will rise in the second half of the year. Growth, too, will falter. It's time to explore other options

RBI MPC meet: Status quo on rates likely as West Asia crisis deepens

After three days of deliberations, the six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), headed by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, will announce its decision on June 5

Governance questions: HDFC Bank must emphatically address all concerns

HDFC Bank must address governance concerns transparently after reports of irregular payments linked to bulk deposits, while the RBI should clarify its oversight role

Reimagining microfinance: Current model works, but at a modest growth rate

India's microfinance model has reached its limits; sustainable growth now requires a shift towards meso-finance, stronger savings buffers, and less reliance on group lending.

'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