News for 'rbi'

RBI may cut interest rate by 25 bps on Feb 7

RBI may cut interest rate by 25 bps on Feb 7

Rediff.com3 Feb 2025

The RBI is likely to reduce the key interest rate by 25 basis points this week after keeping it on hold for two years, complementing the Union Budget initiatives to push consumption-led demand, though the sliding rupee continues to be a concern. As the retail inflation has remained within the Reserve Bank's comfort zone (less than 6 per cent) for most of the year, the central bank can take rate action to boost growth hit by sluggish consumption, opined experts.

Shadow bank risks persist despite RBI relief

Shadow bank risks persist despite RBI relief

Rediff.com18 Mar 2025

Towards the end of February, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) restored the risk weighting on banks loans to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs; including to microfinance institutions, or MFIs) to 100 - back to its November 2023 position - from 125. It is only a partial relief though. "Higher risk weighting on unsecured lending continues to be in place while the same on bank funding to NBFCs has been done away with. "This is a positive step by RBI," says Rajiv Sabharwal, managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO), Tata Capital.

RBI lens on 8 fintech companies in P2P lending space

RBI lens on 8 fintech companies in P2P lending space

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

Currently there are 26 licensed players in the P2P lending sector but only 10-11 are actively operating.

Challenges Before The New Data Law

Challenges Before The New Data Law

Rediff.com28 Jul 2025

DPDP Act (2023) gives individuals the right to decide how their personal data is collected and used. For many businesses, this means reworking longstanding data practices, notes Ravi Duvvuru.

Change of stance to neutral doesn't mean pause on rate cut: Economists

Change of stance to neutral doesn't mean pause on rate cut: Economists

Rediff.com18 Jun 2025

The change in stance to neutral from accommodative in the June monetary policy meeting does not necessarily signal that the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) rate setting body - monetary policy committee (MPC) - will go on a prolonged pause on rate cuts going forward, believe experts.

Want To Invest In Debt Funds?

Want To Invest In Debt Funds?

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

'Maintain a balanced approach with a preference for short-to medium-duration funds.'

GST rejig: Consumer stocks are top investment pick

GST rejig: Consumer stocks are top investment pick

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

The proposed reforms in goods and services tax (GST) announced by the government last week, coupled with the eighth pay commission dole-out, is likely to push consumption-driven stocks - such as air conditioners (ACs), select automobiles, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), retail, and counters of quick-service restaurants (QSRs) - into higher orbit over the next few months, believe analysts.

What Are New RBI Governor's Challenges?

What Are New RBI Governor's Challenges?

Rediff.com10 Dec 2024

'Challenge is basically near-term growth as the outlook has turned a bit adverse.'

Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank reduce lending rates

Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank reduce lending rates

Rediff.com8 Jun 2025

State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) on Sunday said it has cut its benchmark lending rate linked to repo rate by 50 basis points in line with the RBI's rate reduction. Meanwhile, private sector HDFC Bank reduced its Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rates (MCLR) by 10 basis points across tenure, which will benefit borrowers whose loans are linked to this benchmark.

'Banca channel key to achieve insurance for all'

'Banca channel key to achieve insurance for all'

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

'The kind of reach it has with so many bank branches even in the remotest part of the country, it is one channel which will play a very important role in vision of insurance for all.'

RBI to conduct daily variable rate repo auctions to infuse liquidity

RBI to conduct daily variable rate repo auctions to infuse liquidity

Rediff.com16 Jan 2025

In a first, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that it will conduct daily variable rate repo (VRR) auctions on all working days in Mumbai, until further notice. The daily auctions, aimed at easing the current liquidity tightness in the banking system, will begin on Friday, with a notified amount of Rs 50,000 crore.

Govt urges banks to close inoperative Jan Dhan accounts

Govt urges banks to close inoperative Jan Dhan accounts

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

State-owned banks have received guidance from the government to close Jan Dhan accounts whose beneficiaries are unwilling to keep them active, amid rising instances of such accounts being misused by fraudsters as mule accounts to defraud people, people aware of the development said.

Markets settle lower after RBI policy; Sensex sheds 109 points

Markets settle lower after RBI policy; Sensex sheds 109 points

Rediff.com7 Feb 2025

State Bank of India, Adani Ports, Tata Consultancy Services, ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries and PowerGrid were also among the laggards.

Growth Or Inflation? What Will RBI Gov Tackle?

Growth Or Inflation? What Will RBI Gov Tackle?

Rediff.com11 Dec 2024

Sanjay Malhotra takes charge as the 26th RBI governor at a time when headline retail inflation has shot up to 6.2%.

India's forex reserves rise $2.29 bn to $698.95 bn

India's forex reserves rise $2.29 bn to $698.95 bn

Rediff.com21 Jun 2025

India's forex reserves rose $2.29 billion to $698.95 billion for the week ended June 13, the RBI said on Friday. The overall reserves had increased by $5.17 billion to $696.65 billion for the previous reporting week ended June 6.

Why Modi Prefers Babus At RBI Helm

Why Modi Prefers Babus At RBI Helm

Rediff.com20 Dec 2024

Perhaps because the Modi government had some differences of opinion with two of the economist governors (one of whom was appointed by the Manmohan Singh government), there is a view that its political leadership prefers a civil servant to head the RBI, notes A K Bhattacharya.

Banks make a killing from TERPs, standing deposit facility arbitrage

Banks make a killing from TERPs, standing deposit facility arbitrage

Rediff.com3 Jun 2025

Banks have been borrowing heavily from the Tri-Party Repo (TREPS) market and deploying those funds into the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which is offering higher interest rate than the former, leading to increased volumes in the SDF window. The weighted average TREPS rate was trading at 5.66 per cent on Monday, 9 basis points lower than the SDF rate which currently stands at 5.75 per cent.

SBI slams Anil Ambani. says RCom loan account is 'fraud'

SBI slams Anil Ambani. says RCom loan account is 'fraud'

Rediff.com2 Jul 2025

State Bank of India has decided to classify the loan account of beleaguered telecom firm Reliance Communications as "fraud" and to report the name of its erstwhile director -- Anil Ambani to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), according to a regulatory filing. Reliance Communications in a regulatory filing said that it has received a letter dated June 23, 2025 from the State Bank of India (SBI) to this effect.

Sensex rises 317 pts on gains in auto, pharma shares

Sensex rises 317 pts on gains in auto, pharma shares

Rediff.com15 Jul 2025

Stock markets snapped the four-day falling streak on Tuesday with the benchmark Sensex rebounding by 317 points on buying in auto and pharma shares amid a decline in retail inflation to a more than six-year low, nearing the RBI's comfort zone. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 317.45 points or 0.39 per cent to settle at 82,570.91. During the day, it jumped 490.16 points or 0.59 per cent to 82,743.62. The 50-share NSE Nifty edged higher by 113.50 points or 0.45 per cent to 25,195.80.

Will ATMs Dispense Rs 100, 200 By September?

Will ATMs Dispense Rs 100, 200 By September?

Rediff.com18 Jun 2025

Filling of Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes result in faster depletion and more frequent cash replenishment. This will cost banks and managed service providers more.

Why The Bankruptcy Code Needs A Makeover

Why The Bankruptcy Code Needs A Makeover

Rediff.com23 Jul 2025

The famous 'tareekh pe tareekh' dialogue from the Hindi movie Damini captures where we are now.

Market forces decide rupee value, RBI not worried: Guv

Market forces decide rupee value, RBI not worried: Guv

Rediff.com8 Feb 2025

Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Saturday said that the market forces decide the value of rupee with respect to the US dollar and the central bank is not worried about day-to-day movement of the currency value.

Sensex drops 313 points ahead of RBI's rate decision

Sensex drops 313 points ahead of RBI's rate decision

Rediff.com5 Feb 2025

Titan, Nestle, Hindustan Unilever, State Bank of India, Larsen & Toubro, ITC, Zomato and Bajaj Finserv were also among the laggards. Adani Ports, IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors and HDFC Bank were among the major gainers.

RBI cuts policy rate by 25 bps to 6.25%, first reduction in five years

RBI cuts policy rate by 25 bps to 6.25%, first reduction in five years

Rediff.com7 Feb 2025

The RBI under new Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday cut interest rate for the first time in nearly five years as the central bank pivoted the policy stance to support a shuttering economy. The 25 basis points rate cut to 6.25 per cent comes after last rate reduction in May 2020. The last revision of rates happened in February 2023 when the policy rate was hiked by 25 basis points to 6.5 per cent.

India's forex reserves rise $4.84 bn to $702.78 bn

India's forex reserves rise $4.84 bn to $702.78 bn

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

India's forex reserves were up by $4.84 billion to $702.78 billion for the week ended June 27, the Reserve Bank of India said on Friday. In the previous reporting week, the foreign exchange reserves had dropped by $1.01 billion to $697.93 billion.

Indian services sector growth hits 11-month high in July

Indian services sector growth hits 11-month high in July

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

The Indian services sector growth touched an 11 month high in July, supported by a pickup in new exports orders and sharp rise in overall sales, a monthly survey said on Tuesday. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index was at 60.5 in July, little-changed from 60.4 in June, and the rate of expansion was the best seen since August 2024.

India's forex reserves drop $1.24 bn to $691.49 bn

India's forex reserves drop $1.24 bn to $691.49 bn

Rediff.com6 Jun 2025

India's forex reserves dropped by $1.24 billion to $691.49 billion for the week ended May 30, the RBI said on Friday. The overall reserves had jumped by $6.99 billion to $692.72 billion in the previous reporting week.

RBI not targeting specific rupee level: Guv

RBI not targeting specific rupee level: Guv

Rediff.com7 Feb 2025

Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday said the exchange rate policy has remained consistent over the years and the central bank does not target any 'specific level or band' of the rupee, which slipped to an all-time low of 87.59 to a US dollar. On Thursday, the rupee plunged 16 paise to close at a record low of 87.59 against the American currency. "I would like to mention here that the Reserve Bank's exchange rate policy has remained consistent over the years.

RBI cautions about 'deepfake' video of Guv Das

RBI cautions about 'deepfake' video of Guv Das

Rediff.com19 Nov 2024

Reserve Bank on Tuesday cautioned public against "deepfake" videos of the governor being circulated on social media that claim the launch of or support to some investment schemes by the central bank. In a statement, the RBI cautioned public on "deepfake videos of Top Management" circulated over social media giving financial advice.

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.

June retail inflation likely to have cooled further on food prices

June retail inflation likely to have cooled further on food prices

Rediff.com11 Jul 2025

India's consumer price index (CPI)-based retail inflation rate is likely to have cooled further in June, thus remaining below the 4 per cent target of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a fifth consecutive month, giving the central bank wiggle room to focus on growth. Economists reckon that the decline is on account of easing prices in various categories of goods, especially food items, and a favourable base effect.

India's forex reserves jump $5.17 bn to $697 bn

India's forex reserves jump $5.17 bn to $697 bn

Rediff.com13 Jun 2025

India's forex reserves increased by $5.17 billion to $696.65 billion for the week ended June 6, the RBI said on Friday. The overall reserves had dropped by $1.24 billion to $691.49 billion for the week ended May 30.

'India Should Reduce Tariffs For All Countries'

'India Should Reduce Tariffs For All Countries'

Rediff.com11 Aug 2025

'That way you're not hostage just to US sort of exports to India.'

Time To Tackle The Digital Fraud Surge

Time To Tackle The Digital Fraud Surge

Rediff.com14 Aug 2025

We propose an expert group be set up to form a national strategy on digital fraud. This group would bring together skills in financial regulation, security economics, cyber defence, and public communications, and an understanding of the Indian financial and security systems. It should lay the foundations of a coordinated approach by the Indian State in fighting digital fraud, suggest Ajay Shah and Nandkumar Saravade.

RBI sees retail inflation at 4.2% for next fiscal

RBI sees retail inflation at 4.2% for next fiscal

Rediff.com7 Feb 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected retail inflation at 4.2 percent for the next financial year beginning April while retaining the forecast for 2024-25 at 4.8 percent. The central bank attributed the expected easing of inflation to good kharif production, winter-easing in vegetable prices and favorable rabi crop prospects. However, the RBI also noted that continued uncertainty in global financial markets coupled with volatility in energy prices and adverse weather events presents upside risks to the inflation trajectory.

Mobile tariff design skewed in India; rich paying less: Airtel MD

Mobile tariff design skewed in India; rich paying less: Airtel MD

Rediff.com6 Aug 2025

Bharti Airtel sees opportunity in raising tariff for data services as it feels that rich are paying less and poor are not required to pay anymore, a senior official of the company said. During the company's earnings call for the first quarter of the current fiscal, Bharti Airtel vice-chairman and MD Gopal Vittal said that the company has written to the government for a relief on adjusted gross revenue and has demanded that it should be given benefit at par with other telecom operator, without naming Vodafone Idea.

Crypto assets can negatively impact financial stability, says RBI report

Crypto assets can negatively impact financial stability, says RBI report

Rediff.com31 Dec 2024

Widespread use of crypto assets, including stablecoins, can have a negative impact on the macroeconomic and financial stability of a country, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday. In its Financial Stability Report (FSR), the banking regulator highlighted that excessive use of crypto assets can reduce effectiveness of monetary policy, worsen fiscal risks, circumvent capital flow management measures, divert resources available for financing the real economy and threaten global financial stability.

Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra to be next RBI Governor

Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra to be next RBI Governor

Rediff.com9 Dec 2024

The government on Monday appointed Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared Malhotra's name, who has been appointed as the RBI Governor for three years, starting Wednesday. Malhotra, a 1990 Batch Rajasthan Cadre IAS Officer, will replace Shaktikanta Das, whose tenure ends on Tuesday (December 10, 2024).

'Scope for a further rate cut in this cycle itself, if...'

'Scope for a further rate cut in this cycle itself, if...'

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

'India has the potential to grow at more than 7%, with the monetary policy providing a supportive hand.'

Trump's Tariffs: Why India Needs To Be Strategic

Trump's Tariffs: Why India Needs To Be Strategic

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

In trade negotiations, as in chess, sometimes you need to accept a temporary disadvantage to secure a better long-term position, points out Sonal Varma, chief economist (India and Asia ex-Japan) at Nomura.