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.
![RBI RBI](https://im.rediff.com/money/2022/dec/20rbi2.jpg?w=450&h=450)
Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
Following are the highlights of the bi-monthly monetary policy:
- Repo rate (short-term lending rate) reduced by 25 bps to 6.25 pc;
- First rate cut after a gap of 5 years; last reduction was in May 2020;
- To continue 'neutral' monetary policy stance;
- GDP growth for FY'26 projected at 6.7 pc;
- Inflation to come down to 4.2 pc in FY'26 from 4.8 pc in FY'25;
- Food inflation pressures likely to see significant softening;
- Core inflation expected to rise but remain moderate;
- Banks to have 'bank.in' internet domain name, non-banks 'fin.in';
- RBI says global economic backdrop remains challenging;
- Indian economy continue to remain strong, resilient;
- CAD expected to remain well within sustainable level;
- As on Jan 31, India's forex reserves stood at USD 630.6 billion, providing import cover of over 10 months;
- Next meeting of Monetary Policy Committee scheduled for April 7-9.
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