[MUMBAI] The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut its key repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) on Friday (Dec 5) and left the door open for further easing, as it took steps to boost banking-sector liquidity by up to US$16 billion to support a “Goldilocks” economy.
The world’s fifth-largest economy is under pressure from punitive tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, widening its trade deficit and pushing its currency to a record low.
Global headwinds have prompted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration to step up domestic economic reforms, including paring consumer taxes, changing labour rules and easing financial-sector regulations.
The RBI’s six-member monetary policy committee voted unanimously to lower the repo rate to 5.25 per cent, in line with a consensus view, and maintained a “neutral” stance, suggesting room for further rate cuts.
The central bank has now cut rates by a total of 125 bps since February 2025, the most aggressive easing since 2019. It held rates in August and October.
The Indian economy was in a “rare Goldilocks” period, RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra said in a video address.
Since October, India’s economy has experienced rapid disinflation, leading to a breach of the central bank’s lower threshold of tolerance, said Malhotra, adding that growth has remained strong.
Given these macroeconomic conditions, “policy space” exists to support growth, he said. Malhotra added later at a post-policy press conference: “We expect the policy rates to be low as inflation stays benign.”
Garima Kapoor, economist at Mumbai-based Elara Securities, expects another rate cut, noting “there are no signs of overheating in the economy”.
“We believe that there would be scope for another 25 bps cut this cycle as inflation is expected to remain benign,” he said.
The RBI also decided to conduct open market operations of one trillion rupees (S$14.4 billion) to buy bonds this month, and another US$5 billion in forex swaps to add liquidity to the banking system and speed up transmission of lower rates.
India’s benchmark 10-year bond yield dropped nearly 5 bps after the central bank’s moves, but rebounded thereafter to trade flat at 6.4841 per cent. The rupee fell marginally, while the benchmark equity indexes were up 0.4 per cent each.
Stronger growth, lower inflation
The central bank raised its gross domestic product forecast for the current year to 7.3 per cent from its previous estimate of 6.8 per cent, while the inflation projection was lowered to 2 per cent versus 2.6 per cent in October.
The South Asian economy expanded at a sharper-than-expected clip of 8.2 per cent in the July-to-September quarter, but growth is expected to slow as the full impact of up to 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the US hit exports and sectors from textiles to chemicals.
External uncertainties could pose “downside risks” to growth, Malhotra said.
On the other hand, retail inflation stood at an all-time low of 0.25 per cent in October, and is expected to remain soft in coming months. The central bank targets inflation at 4 per cent, within a tolerance band of 2 per cent on either side.
“Underlying inflation pressures are even lower”, Malhotra said, pointing to a “generalised” decline in price pressures.
“Both demand and supply-side factors are driving the low inflation”, he said in response to a question on whether weak price pressure reflects soft consumer demand and a rise in cheaper Chinese imports.
“With (the) RBI continuing to leave room open for further easing, we do not rule out another 25 bps cut, with the likely terminal rate at 5 per cent followed by a prolonged pause,” said Upasna Bhardwaj, chief economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank in Mumbai.
Can “comfortably” meet external financing
Malhotra said India’s external sector remains “resilient” and external financing requirements will be met “comfortably”.
Concern about stalling US dollar flows at a time when India’s trade deficit is widening has pushed the South Asian nation’s currency to an all-time low.
The central bank will tolerate a weaker currency, and only intervene to curb speculative activity, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Malhotra said the RBI will allow the market to determine levels on currency, reinforcing that the central bank’s focus is on reducing “undue volatility”.
India’s foreign exchange reserves of US$686.2 billion provide a robust import cover of more than 11 months, the governor said. REUTERS
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