The challenge for the RBI in 2024 is likely to be less about containing elevated inflation and more about curbing excessive financial market exuberance and a 'problem of plenty', notes Sajjid Chinoy, Chief India Economist JP Morgan.
The larger virtue of maintaining fiscal credibility should not be unduly diluted by quibbles on the fiscal math, says Sajjid Chinoy.
An asset swap can simultaneously boost public investment, reduce the fiscal deficit and keep fiscal policy from being pro-cyclical.
There was hope in some quarters that the interim Budget would boost sentiment and lay the groundwork for kick-starting the investment cycle, while staying on a path of fiscal consolidation.
Rate cuts are unlikely to spur a supply response until the implementation bottlenecks are resolved.
RBI's 50-bps cut can be construed as the central bank tactically using this narrow window of opportunity -- when inflation has gapped down -- to frontload the rate cuts intended for the year, knowing opportunities may not come by later.
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