Manojit Saha

All stories by Manojit Saha

Will RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das get an extension?

Will RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das get an extension?

Rediff.com17 hours ago

The December meeting of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will start on Wednesday even as there is no clarity on whether Governor Shaktikanta Das, the chair of the panel, will continue in office after his term ends next week. The outcome of the meeting will be announced on Friday by Das at 10 in the morning.

Banks urge RBI for boards' workload mgmt

Banks urge RBI for boards' workload mgmt

Rediff.com19 Nov 2024

Private sector bank board members have urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) top brass to consider workload management of the boards as they feel there are too many issues that go to the boards for approval and the situation becomes unmanageable at times. The views were conveyed to the regulator on Monday in a conference of directors of private sector bank boards on the theme "Transformative Governance Through Sound Boards". RBI governor Shaktikanta Das, deputy governors Swaminathan J and M Rajeshwar Rao, and other senior officials of the central bank participated in the conference.

Asset quality risk, a worry for IndusInd

Asset quality risk, a worry for IndusInd

Rediff.com6 Nov 2024

A Rs 525-crore contingency provision during the July-September period led to a 19 per cent fall in IndusInd Bank's share price on Friday (October 25). Contingency provisions are generally made when a lender expects more bad loans in the coming quarters. Shares of the bank on Tuesday (October 29) declined 1.53 per cent to settle at Rs 1,038.2 apiece on the BSE.

RBI report confident of festival boost to economy

RBI report confident of festival boost to economy

Rediff.com22 Oct 2024

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) State of the Economy report for October acknowledged a slowdown in some high-frequency indicators but expressed confidence in a recovery, aided by consumption demand during the festival season. "In India, aggregate demand is poised to shrug off the temporary slowdown in momentum in the second quarter of 2024-25 as festival demand picks up pace and consumer confidence improves," said the report released on Monday.

RBI bars Navi Finserv, 3 other NBFCs from extending loans

RBI bars Navi Finserv, 3 other NBFCs from extending loans

Rediff.com18 Oct 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred four non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), including two microfinance institutions (MFIs), from sanctioning and disbursing loans for charging exorbitant interest rates to the borrowers. These four entities are Asirvad Microfinance, Arohan Financial Services (also an MFI), DMI Finance, which provides personal, consumption, and micro, small and medium enterprises loans, and Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal's Navi Finserv, which offers home and personal loans. The ban will take effect on October 21 to "facilitate closure of transactions in the pipeline", the regulator said in a statement.

De-risking loan portfolio likely a top priority for new Bandhan CEO

De-risking loan portfolio likely a top priority for new Bandhan CEO

Rediff.com15 Oct 2024

Partha Pratim Sengupta, who will be taking charge as the MD & CEO of Bandhan Bank in early November, has his task cut out. The Kolkata-based lender, which converted itself from a microfinance institution to a universal bank, is in its 10th year of operation. The bank was able to cut down the share of the micro loan book over these years.

RBI seen warming up for a neutral shift in stance

RBI seen warming up for a neutral shift in stance

Rediff.com9 Sep 2024

With concern on food inflation ebbing with the monsoon progressing well, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is warming up to the idea of a change in stance to "neutral" from "withdrawal of accommodation", according to economists. In his speech on Thursday during the annual event of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry-Indian Banks' Association, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said: "The balance between inflation and growth is well-poised."

Can Setty Take SBI To New Heights?

Can Setty Take SBI To New Heights?

Rediff.com4 Sep 2024

It is to be seen if SBI under Setty, who will have a three-year term, can ride the economic cycle to take SBI to new heights, navigating some of these challenges.

''Growth Expected To Be 1% Below Last Year'

''Growth Expected To Be 1% Below Last Year'

Rediff.com3 Sep 2024

'A possible post-election growth momentum may be lost.'

MPC Members Were Divided On Rate Cut

MPC Members Were Divided On Rate Cut

Rediff.com23 Aug 2024

Deputy Governor Michael Patra warned about the spillover effects of food inflation.

Why RBI Cracked Down On P2P Lending

Why RBI Cracked Down On P2P Lending

Rediff.com22 Aug 2024

Following a review of peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, certain issues -- including high non-performing asset levels, significantly high balances in escrow accounts, and non-compliance with net owned fund and disclosure requirements -- came to the RBI's attention.

'Our objective is to keep improving Casa ratio'

'Our objective is to keep improving Casa ratio'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2024

'The Casa ratio is at 33.4 per cent, which has to keep improving. Right now, there is a bit of liquidity pressure in the market.'

RBI proposes to tighten banks' LCR norms, releases draft guidelines

RBI proposes to tighten banks' LCR norms, releases draft guidelines

Rediff.com26 Jul 2024

In view of the rising number of mobile and internet banking users, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to tighten norms related to the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) by increasing the run-off factor for retail deposits. "Banking has undergone rapid transformation in recent years. "While increased usage of technology has facilitated the ability to make instantaneous bank transfers and withdrawals, it has also led to a concomitant increase in risks, requiring proactive management," the RBI said in the draft guidelines released on Thursday.

RBI Flags Concern Over Illegal Accounts

RBI Flags Concern Over Illegal Accounts

Rediff.com10 Jul 2024

'We found certain banks having lakhs of such accounts with apparently no valid reason.'

Banks turn cautious on lending to smaller microfinance players

Banks turn cautious on lending to smaller microfinance players

Rediff.com8 Jul 2024

Commercial banks have turned cautious in lending to smaller microfinance institutions (MFIs), which has compelled the latter to borrow from non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) at much higher rates. Recently Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao slammed micro lenders for increasing their margins "disproportionately" and said these lenders were quick to pass on the increased cost to the borrowers but reluctant to pass on the benefits under the new regime, where margins are not capped.

Can the 'new' HDFC Bank reclaim its old glory?

Can the 'new' HDFC Bank reclaim its old glory?

Rediff.com8 Jul 2024

For over a decade, HDFC Bank consistently outperformed industry growth rates in both deposits and advances, maintaining impeccable asset quality. Amid a landscape where other banks struggled with soaring non-performing assets (NPAs), HDFC Bank thrived, eventually surpassing ICICI Bank to become the largest private sector lender in India. Its net interest margin (NIM) remained stable in the range of 4.1-4.4 per cent.

'High real repo rate can have adverse effects on demand as well as supply'

'High real repo rate can have adverse effects on demand as well as supply'

Rediff.com6 Jul 2024

'The real repo rate is very high in terms of core inflation.'

'No Hurry To Convert To Universal Bank'

'No Hurry To Convert To Universal Bank'

Rediff.com11 Jun 2024

'Have a long way to go even as a small finance bank, both in terms of size, and in terms of fulfilling our aspirations for financial inclusion.'

'Climate shocks' add uncertainty to inflation outlook: RBI annual report

'Climate shocks' add uncertainty to inflation outlook: RBI annual report

Rediff.com31 May 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has identified "climate shocks" as a risk to food inflation rates and overall price rise while stating that the outlook for the country's economic growth remains bright. In its Annual Report for 2023-24, released on Thursday, the central bank said easing supply-chain pressures, broad-based softening in core inflation, and early indications of an above-normal southwest monsoon meant well for the inflation outlook in 2024-25. "The increasing incidence of climate shocks, however, imparts considerable uncertainty to the food inflation and overall inflation outlook," said the RBI while noting headline inflation moderated by 1.3 percentage points on an annual average basis to 5.4 per cent in 2023-24.

US Treasuries drive RBI's bumper surplus to Centre

US Treasuries drive RBI's bumper surplus to Centre

Rediff.com31 May 2024

A combination of factors, including heavy investments in US Treasury bonds and dollar sales at a healthy profit, facilitated the Indian central bank in transferring a record surplus of Rs 2.11 trillion to the government for 2023-24 (FY24). The RBI's dollar purchases increased in FY24, supported by robust capital inflows endorsing the economy's health.

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