April 9, 2025 :The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday unveiled its first monetary policy decision for FY26 amid escalating global trade tensions triggered by recent US tariff hikes. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, held deliberations from April 7 to 9, with the policy announcement expected later this morning. The announcement was made at 10am, and Malhotra will hold a post-policy press conference at 12pm.
The MPC meet comes amid growing fears of a global economic slowdown, with US protectionist measures casting a shadow over emerging markets, including India.
In its last policy review in February, the RBI lowered the benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25%, its first rate cut in nearly five years.
The repo rate is the interest rate at which the central bank lends money to commercial banks.
Summary: RBI trims India’s real GDP growth projection for 2025 to 6.5% from 6.7%, citing global uncertainties and inflationary pressures in its latest monetary policy update.