RBI Monetary Policy – What could have been done better?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), under Governor Sanjay Malhotra, recently held the repo rate steady at 5.50%, retained the ‘Neutral’ monetary policy stance, maintained its GDP forecast of 6.5% for FY 26 (Financial Year 2025–26), and revised the CPI (Consumer Price Index) inflation projection downward from 3.7% to 3.1%—all while highlighting growth risks and sustained rural and urban consumption trends. While the decision reflected cautious optimism, a deeper look reveals areas where the RBI could have adopted a more proactive posture to better address underlying challenges.
1. Pace and communication of monetary easing
The RBI had already front-loaded rate cuts—including a surprise 50-basis-point repo cut in June and a 100-basis-point Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) reduction (to 3%) earlier in the year. However, these measures require time to permeate through the financial system. Experts argue that the RBI could have paired such front-loading with clearer forward guidance—e.g., signaling conditional rate cuts later in 2025—to reassure markets of continued accommodation. While many economists still expect easing later in the year, the neutral stance dampened such expectations (The Economic Times).
What could have been done better: Offer conditional guidance—“further cuts contingent on inflation and global risks”—to reinforce policy certainty.
2. Addressing external vulnerabilities more forcefully
The RBI correctly flagged heightened risks from U.S. tariffs and global uncertainty. In response, it returned to intervening in the non-deliverable forwards (NDF) market to manage rupee volatility. But this stopgap measure buys only short-term relief.
What could have been done better: The RBI could have coordinated with the Ministry of Finance to deploy targeted foreign exchange (FX) hedging tools and diversify FX reserves, reducing reliance on reactive NDF fixes. Emphasizing longer-term resilience rather than tactical intervention would signal robust policy readiness.
3. Fostering strength in urban demand & credit transmission
Governor Malhotra noted robust rural consumption and sustainable urban demand—a balanced rebound indeed. Yet, the transmission of prior rate cuts into credit markets has lagged. Liquidity remains ample (e.g., LAF surplus averaging Rs.3 lakh crore), but credit growth remains modest (Financial Express).
What could have been done better: Provide targeted liquidity incentives for sectors like MSMEs and urban consumer finance—such as credit guarantee unveilings, refinance windows, or tiered interest rate corridors—to ensure rate cuts translate into real-economy lending.
4. Clearer thresholds for future easing or tightening
The RBI’s statement emphasized data-dependence but stopped short of laying out explicit thresholds for actions based on inflation or growth indicators (e.g., CPI crossing 4%, GDP falling below 6%). Such vagueness leaves businesses and markets uncertain.
What could have been done better: Declare transparent markers—e.g., “Should inflation remain below 3.5% and growth slip under 6.2%, MPC will consider a 25 bp cut.”
5. More proactive structural support (beyond rates)
The RBI outlined strong banking sector fundamentals—healthy capital adequacy, GNPA (Gross Non-Performing Asset) ratios, and CD ratio. Yet structural constraints like banking sector credit reach, digital payments, and access remain.
What could have been done better: Accelerate rollout of the digital rupee or dedicated liquidity facilities for fintech and credit flow to underserved sectors, enhancing both monetary reach and financial inclusion.
6. Leverage benign inflation for growth-oriented posture
India’s retail inflation is now at an eight-year low—around 1.76% in July 2025—well below the RBI’s 2–6% target band—and core inflation stands modestly above 4% (Moneycontrol). Such low inflation offers ample room for stimulus without risking overheating.
What could have been done better: Use the favorable inflation environment aggressively—consider a modest rate cut (e.g. 25 bp) to support demand, especially as downside pressures emerge from tariffs and trade disruptions.
Conclusion
The August 6, 2025 MPC decision by the RBI was shaped by prudence—maintaining the repo rate at 5.50%, retaining a neutral stance, holding GDP forecast at 6.5%, lowering inflation forecast to 3.1%, while pointing to global trade tensions and resilient consumption trends. Yet, a bolder communication strategy, more targeted credit support, transparent thresholds, proactive external risk mitigation, and structural policy levers (like CBDC rollout) could have strengthened policy transmission and market confidence. With retail inflation at historic lows, the RBI had a rare opportunity to tilt decisively toward growth—an opportunity that may have been better seized.
Abbreviations
- CD ratio — Credit-Deposit ratio
- CPI — Consumer Price Index
- CRR — Cash Reserve Ratio
- FX — Foreign Exchange
- FY 26 — Financial Year 2025–26 (April 2025 to March 2026)
- GDP — Gross Domestic Product
- GNPA — Gross Non-Performing Asset
- LAF — Liquidity Adjustment Facility
- MPC — Monetary Policy Committee
- NDF — Non-Deliverable Forwards (currency derivatives)
RBI — Reserve Bank of India
