Maintain balance between growth and financial stability
The six-member MPC, headed by Das, had kept the repo rate unchanged on December 5 despite moderation in economic growth and easing inflation
Sachin Chaturvedi, a member of the Central Board of RBI, describes Das as a person who brings in pragmatism, commitment, transparency and sincerity to the table.
The market and economists were expecting a sure cut in the policy review, considering the weak growth rate
RBI's next move will depend on the Budget
All these analysts agree that a rate cut is on the table but are not the same page on the timing though
'We expect a gradual recovery in income growth right into the second half of next year', said Das
Says forces driving up inflation 'appear to be transient'
In the absence of near-term government stimulus, markets may remain range-bound until Budget
With the RBI's rate-setting meeting over, the attention now turns to the US Federal Reserve's (US Fed's) two-day policy meet that begins on December 11
The 6-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, unanimously voted to hold the key repo rate at 5.15% and reverse repo rate at 4.90%
Transmission of rate cuts by banks has been slow because any lowering of interest rate, with deposit rates unchanged, will reduce banks' net interest income spread, affecting their revenue
If the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cuts the repo rate on Thursday, it would be the sixth reduction in the short-term lending rate in 2019
Effectiveness of the policy needs to be questioned
When expected inflation drops, the policy rate should drop even more
Even as market rates have fully reflected the rate cuts, companies are not necessarily in the mood for borrowing, as they face a slump in consumption demand and investment in the country
The recent inflation data is not a serious problem for the Monetary Policy Committee
Minutes of meetings show maintaining the 'accommodative' stance was the Reserve Bank governor's idea
Significant fiscal slippage could affect monetary policy
Although the transmission of monetary easing undertaken so far has been staggered and incomplete, it is expected to improve going forward.