Context:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its October 2025 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.5% with a neutral stance. The decision comes amid tariff-related uncertainties, the need to evaluate the impact of previous rate cuts, and an improving domestic macroeconomic outlook.
Policy Decisions
- Repo Rate: Unchanged at 5.50% (second consecutive pause)
- Monetary Policy Stance: Neutral
- Cumulative Rate Cuts in 2025: 100 bps (Feb, Apr, Jun) → from 6.5% to 5.5%
Macro Outlook
- GDP Growth (FY26): Revised upward to 6.8% (from 6.5%)
- CPI Inflation (FY26): Revised downward to 2.6% (from 3.1%)
Rationale
- Tariff Uncertainties: May weigh on exports, create near-term risks.
- GST Rationalisation: Expected to lower inflation and boost demand.
- Global Headwinds: Persist as a risk factor.
Key Regulatory & Structural Announcements
- Expected Credit Loss (ECL) Framework
- Applicable to all Scheduled Commercial Banks from April 1, 2027.
- Forward-looking provisioning → enhances credit discipline.
- Basel III Norms
- Revised capital adequacy framework to be implemented from April 1, 2027.
- Strengthens resilience of banks through higher buffers.
- Group Entities Regulation
- Restrictions on overlaps between banks and group entities to be removed.
- Provides flexibility in operations.
- Risk-Based Insurance Premium
- RBI to introduce differentiated deposit insurance premium framework for banks based on risk profile.
- Capital Market Lending Expansion
- Removal of regulatory ceiling on lending against listed debt securities.
- Lending against shares: Raised to ₹1 crore (from ₹20 lakh per person).
- IPO Financing: Enhanced to ₹25 lakh (from ₹10 lakh per person).
Implications
For Economy
- Growth-supportive stance despite global uncertainty.
- Stable repo rate → supports investment and consumption.
- Upward GDP revision signals confidence in domestic recovery.
For Banks & Financial Institutions
- ECL & Basel III norms (from 2027) → strengthen risk management, capital adequacy.
- More freedom in capital market lending → deepens debt & equity markets.
- Higher IPO financing limits → encourages retail/HNI participation.
For Borrowers & Investors
- Loan EMIs remain stable (repo unchanged).
- Retail investors benefit from higher lending against shares & IPO financing.
- Lower inflation outlook → real interest rates remain supportive.
Key Terms
| Term | Definition | Impact / Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Repo Rate | Rate at which RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against government securities as collateral. | ↑ Repo → Loans costly → Inflation control. ↓ Repo → Loans cheaper → Boosts growth. |
| Reverse Repo Rate | Rate at which RBI borrows money from commercial banks. | ↑ Reverse Repo → Absorbs liquidity → Controls inflation. ↓ Reverse Repo → Banks lend more → Boosts growth. |
| ECL (Expected Credit Loss) Framework | Forward-looking provisioning system where banks estimate expected loan losses instead of waiting for defaults. | Strengthens banking sector resilience by reducing risk of sudden shocks. |
| Basel III Norms | International banking reforms focusing on capital adequacy, leverage, and liquidity standards. | Ensures financial stability, prevents systemic risks, enhances risk management. |
