RBI increases key lending rate by 35 bps Cuts FY23 GDP Growth Projection to 6.8%
- December 8, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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RBI increases key lending rate by 35 bps Cuts FY23 GDP Growth Projection to 6.8%
Context:
- The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of RBI increased key interest rates by 35 basis points.
More about news:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday raised the benchmark lending rate by 35 basis points (bps) to 6.25%, the fifth increase since May.
- Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate is adjusted to 6% and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and Bank rate to 6.50%.
- It lowered its estimate of GDP growth to 6.8% in the fiscal ending March 31, 2023, from an earlier forecast of 7%
- The MPC kept the inflation forecast unchanged at 6.7% for the current fiscal and projected it to come down below the upper tolerance limit of 6% in the fourth quarter of the current financial year.
- The MPC also decided to remain focused on the withdrawal of the accommodative stance to ensure that inflation remains within the target going forward while supporting growth.
Some Basic Concepts-
- Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a countrylends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds. Here, the central bank purchases the security.
- Reverse repo rate is the rate at which the RBI borrows money from commercial banks within the country.
- Bank Rate: It is the rate charged by the RBI for lending funds to commercial banks.
- Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): MSF is a window for scheduled banks to borrow overnight from the RBI in an emergency situation when interbank liquidity dries up completely.
What is Monetary Policy Committee:
- The Monetary Policy Committee is a statutory and institutionalized framework under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
- The Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman of the committee.
- The committee comprises six members (including the Chairman) – three officials of the RBI and three external members nominated by the Government of India.
- Decisions are taken by majority with the Governor having the casting vote in case of a tie.
- The MPC determines the policy interest rate (repo rate) required to achieve the inflation target (4%).