India need to raise policy rates to restrain inflation: D Subbarao

02 Aug 2011 Evaluate

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is less likely to end its rate hike cycle, which started in March 2010, to check inflation. On August 1, RBI governor, D Subbarao said, India need to raise interest rates to restrain inflation. The central bank hiked the policy rates by 50 basis points taking the repo rate to 8 percent and reverse repo rate to 7 percent with immediate effect for the 11th time since March 2010. This unexpected move by RBI stunned the investors, who on the other hand were expecting a 25 basis point hike.

RBI has adopted aggressive stance on inflation, which is hovering around the double digit mark. The headline inflation, measured by Wholesale Price Index (WPI) has been more than 9 percent in the April to June 2011. For June headline inflation stood at 9.44 percent from 9.06 percent in May, and government also revised inflation figure for month of April, to 9.74 percent from 8.66 percent made earlier. 

Earlier, Finance minister had also indicated that RBI may go for another hike if inflation is not coming down to comfort level. However, the nonstop hike in interest rate is hurting growth momentum of economy. D Subbarao said,” Restraining inflation will ensure medium-term economic growth is sustainable.

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