Kolkata: The repo rate cut by 25 basis points by the monetary policy committee (MPC) of RBI announced Friday will give a long-awaited relief on interest rates and also be supportive of economic growth, according to experts. The repo rate is the interest rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks. The chief economist of Crisil Limited, Dharmakirti Joshi, said, as expected, the MPC of the central bank cut rates for the first time since May 2020. The repo rate has been cut by 25 basis points, which now stands at 6.25 per cent.
ALSO READ: Singapore Banks To Post Higher Q4 Profit, But Trump Tariffs Could Hurt 2025 Growth
Joshi said that the recent easing in consumer price index (CPI) inflation and the need to remain supportive of economic growth has moved the RBI to act in this regard. However, the MPC maintained the policy stance as 'neutral', which gives flexibility to remain data dependent and respond to exigencies, Joshi said, adding that in future, the MPC moves will depend more on domestic inflation. "Elevated rates have impacted India's GDP growth while the budget for the next financial year is mildly supportive of growth while continuing on the path of fiscal consolidation," he said.
RBI cuts repo rate, economic growth support expected.
Joshi expressed hope that the MPC would cut the repo rate to another 75 basis points to 100 basis points in the next financial year. Chief Investment Officer of Axis Securities PMS Naveen Kulkarni said, "The RBI reversed the interest rate cycle by announcing a rate cut of 25 basis points. This was largely anticipated."
ALSO READ: 6 फेब्रुवारि, 2025 मायथाइयाव मैयानि गोजौसिन मुलाम्फा मोनग्राफोर आरो जेननायफोर:
He said the GDP growth for the current fiscal has been revised downwards to 6.4 per cent from 6.6 per cent. "And for the next fiscal, the GDP is expected to be at 6.7 per cent. We could see another rate cut of 25 basis points in the forthcoming meetings of the MPC," he said.