City
Epaper

RBI's MPC found clear signs of economy losing traction

By IANS | Updated: June 20, 2019 20:15 IST

At the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting earlier this month, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had pointed to clear evidence of economic activity losing traction while presenting the rationale for a rate cut, as per the minutes of the MPC meeting released by the central bank on Thursday.

Open in App

In its second monetary policy review of the current fiscal earlier this month, the MPC had cut the RBI's repo, or short term lending rate for commercial banks, by 25 basis points to 5.75 per cent from 6 per cent.

Taking note of the significant weakness of growth impulses and expressing concern over the "sharp slowdown" in investment activity, all the six members of the MPC voted for the rate cut.

Chaired by the RBI Governor, the MPC includes Chetan Ghate, Pami Dua, Ravindra H. Dholakia, Michael Debabrata Patra and Viral V. Acharya as its members. While Patra is an Executive Director of the central bank and Acharya is an RBI Deputy Governor, the others are external members of the MPC.

"All members of the MPC unanimously decided to reduce the policy repo rate by 25 basis points and change the stance of monetary policy from neutral to accommodative," the MPC minutes said.

"Overall, there is clear evidence of economic activity losing traction, with the GDP growth in Q4 (fourth quarter) 2018-19 slowing down to 5.8 per cent," Das said, as per the minutes of the MPC meeting.

Das also noted that "growth impulses have clearly weakened", while the headline inflation trajectory is projected to remain below 4 per cent throughout 2019-20 even after considering the expected transmission of the past two policy rate cuts.

Growth has seriously dipped and can recover relatively fast on policy support though it is likely to remain well below the potential at least for next three to four quarters, Dholakia said.

Patra said that India cannot afford to be complacent about the danger of a deepening of the global slowdown.

"Intensification of trade wars and geopolitical tensions amidst volatile crude prices and nervous financial markets render the outlook fraught with downside risks," Patra added.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: MPCViral V AcharyaRBI
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalRs 500 High-Quality Fake Currency Notes Circulating in Market, Says MHA; Here's How to Identify

Navi MumbaiRBI Repo Rate Cut to Boost Navi Mumbai Housing Demand Amid Mega Infrastructure Push

NationalRBI Slashes Repo Rate by 25 Basis Points to 6% in Second Consecutive Cut

NationalRBI Repo Rate Cut: How Much Will Your EMI Reduce After Reserve Bank of India's Latest Monetary Policy Update

NationalPublic Holiday on March 31, 2025: Are Banks Open or Closed on Financial Year-End? RBI Issues Important Update

कारोबार Realted Stories

BusinessIndia's secondary real estate market grows to 43% share by FY25: Square Yards

BusinessIndia seeks new trade opportunities with Croatia, Netherlands to diversify trade partnerships

BusinessSouth Korean firms struggle with uncertainties from Trump's trade policy

BusinessMusk’s Starlink service set to launch in South Korea this year

BusinessHanwha Aerospace eyes US Air Force repair hub role