Govt set to improve ties with financial regulators to stem rupee's slide

08 Jul 2013 Evaluate

The government is all set to improve its relations with financial regulators, mainly the central bank amid concerns that lack of discussion among policymakers is hurting management of the economy at a time, when the rupee depreciated to a record low of over 60 per dollar. The government is of the view that there is a need of possible coordinated effort to stem the rupee's slide and is considering a measure to appoint a senior official in the finance ministry to work closely with the regulators. During the global financial crisis in 2008, the finance ministry, RBI and SEBI worked closely to contain the fallout in Indian markets.

Concerned over the falling rupee value, last week Finance Minister P Chidambaram held a meeting with India's top economic policymakers, including RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, PM's Economic Advisor C Rangarajan and the finance ministry's top bureaucrat Arvind Mayaram, to discuss measures to stabilise the weakening currency.

The government wants a harmonious relationship between the finance ministry, the Resreve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) so that differences at the leadership level do not end up jeopardizing plans for co-ordinate action to handle an external shock. At present, the key macroeconomic challenge to the government and the RBI is to manage short-term external debt, amounting to $172 billion, which is due for repayment in next year, while India's total forex reserves are presently just under $285 billion.    

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