RBI Announces FCNR(B) Swap Facility Until Sep 2026; Inflows Fell 86% to $946 Million in FY26

UPI@10 Years: 86% of Digital Transactions, Government Allows Merchant Fees Under PSS Act Amendment

UPI completes 10 years with 86% of India's digital transactions, but the zero-MDR model is ending. The government has amended the PSS Act to allow merchant fees, aiming to fund the next growth phase in rural areas and cross-border payments. Key challenge: balancing inclusion with sustainability.

IBC Haircuts Explained: Subhash Chandra's Rs 6.5 Cr Settlement, Recovery Rates at 20%

The NCLT approved a settlement where Subhash Chandra pays only Rs 6.5 crore against admitted claims of Rs 22,006.57 crore, sparking debate on deep 'haircuts' under IBC. This news highlights the core tension between resolution and recovery, with FY26 recovery at a five-year low of 20%. For aspirants, it's a critical case to understand the IBC mechanism, valuation methods, and the government vs. banks perspective.

RBI MPC Status Quo at 5.25% as CPI Inflation Rises to 4.8%, WPI at 9.92%

Retail inflation rose to 4.8% in August 2026, with food inflation at 5.95% and WPI at 9.92%. Broad-based price pressures strengthen the case for an RBI rate hike, despite the MPC keeping repo rate unchanged at 5.25% in August. This is critical for understanding monetary policy direction and the inflation targeting framework.

RBI Mandates Daily Bulk Deposit Rate Disclosure by 10 AM, Allows LCR-Linked Differential Pricing from Oct 2026

RBI has mandated daily disclosure of bulk deposit interest rates by 10 AM with a 10-minute grace period, ensuring uniformity across branches and customers. Simultaneously, banks can now offer differential rates on bulk deposits based on LCR run-off rates, linking pricing to liquidity risk.

RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25%, Lowers GDP Growth Forecast to 6.7% for FY27

RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% citing a hazy outlook due to monsoon uncertainties, El Niño, geopolitics, and global trade policy. Growth projection for FY27 was lowered to 6.7% while CPI inflation is projected at 5.0% with upside risks from food and fuel supply shocks. Students must memorize these key data points for Prelims and understand the growth-inflation trade-off for Mains.

RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25%, Maintains Neutral Stance, Raises GDP Forecast to 6.7%

RBI MPC kept repo rate unchanged at 5.25% amid global uncertainties, raised GDP growth forecast to 6.7% and lowered inflation projection to 5%. Students must note the neutral stance, unanimous decision, and the context of West Asia conflict and volatile crude oil prices.

India's GDP Growth Stays Above 7% Amid West Asia War: 125 bps Repo Rate Cut, Low Services Inflation Key

The Indian economy has defied expectations of a sharp slowdown despite the West Asia war. GDP growth remained above 7%, inflation stayed low, and current account deficit was contained at 0.3% of GDP. Key factors include 125 bps repo rate cuts, GST cuts, and resilient services exports and low services inflation. However, risks persist from rising food inflation, potential El Niño impact, and vulnerability of services sector.

US Fed Hikes Rates to 3.75–4%; RBI MPC Seen Raising Repo Rate to 5.5% in October

The US Federal Reserve has raised the federal funds rate target range by 25 bps to 3.75–4%, its first hike in three years, with all 12 FOMC members voting in favour. With India's CPI inflation at 4.82% in August and price pressures generalising, the RBI's MPC (Oct 5–7) is expected to hike the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.5%. This is a high-yield monetary policy development for Prelims and Mains.