RBI has not exhausted instruments to deal with impact of coronavirus pandemic: Shaktikanta Das

28 Aug 2020 Evaluate

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has said that the central bank has not exhausted its instruments or ammunition--whether on rate cuts or other policy actions--to deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. He also said that the RBI wanted to keep its gun powder dry and hence opted for a status quo at the last policy review earlier this month. 

With concerns being raised after the hardening of yields of government securities lately, Das said it will be incorrect to say that the RBI's moves have not worked. He said the bond yields have hardened only in the last fortnight, and used to hover between 5.70 to 5.79 per cent range for the benchmark security during the last few months. However, he acknowledged the same have gone up to over 6.10 per cent lately. He also noted that the RBI's job is to ensure smooth functioning of the markets.

RBI Governor further said it can be noted that the central bank has reduced rates by 1.15 per cent in two rate cut moves till the surge in inflation to beyond its comfort level prevented it from acting at the last policy. However, he said the policy continues to be in the accommodation stance, which means the central bank can act as and when it sees space. He added that generally, the policy transmission happens first in the money markets followed by the lending to other segments of the economy.

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