Highlights of RBI Governor Das’ comments in an interview to Cogencis

In his first media interaction since the nationwide lockdown took effect to contain the spread of COVID-19, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das told Cogencis  on April 27th, 2020 that the central bank is yet to take a view on budget deficit monetisation or private placement of bonds. Mr. Das said even though there is an animated discussion on the subject of the central bank monetising the government's budget deficit amidst the ongoing fight against COVID-19 pandemic, he has not taken a view on the issue.

Following are the highlights of Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das' first interview since the beginning of nationwide lockdown announced over a month ago:

* Fiscal measures key to combat economic impact of COVID-19
* FY21 fiscal gap going beyond 3.5% becomes unavoidable
* RBI has not taken a view on monetisation of government deficit
* On issue of monetisation, RBI must keep operational realities in sight
* On issue of monetisation, must preserve RBI's balance sheet strength
* Will evaluate alternative funding sources for fiscal deficit
* Won't make specific comment on private placement of bonds with RBI
* Will take judicious, balanced call if RBI will take bond private placements
* On bond private placements, will take judicious call based on situation
* Not taken any view on COVID bonds
* Repo rate, as decided by MPC, is the "single" policy rate
* Repo rate alone conveys the stance of monetary policy

FISCAL PACKAGE
* Government working on economic package to tackle COVID-19 impact
* Meeting FY21 fiscal gap of 3.5% very challenging
* Expect government to take judicious call on fiscal deficit
* Expect government to take balanced call on question of fiscal gap
* Government took steps to aid vulnerable, disadvantaged sections
* GST collections to be significantly impacted by lockdown
* Can't rule out hit on direct taxes due to lockdown
* Must prioritise support steps when deciding fiscal package size
* Must prioritise interventions when deciding fiscal steps size
* Fiscal steps must be well targeted to optimise outcome
* Exit strategy for fiscal interventions equally important
* Fiscal measures for COVID package must have sunset provisions
* Must balance economic needs with sustainable fiscal gap level
* Fiscal gap must be consistent with economic stability
* Fiscal gap must be consistent with financial stability
* Extent of overshooting of fiscal deficit aim depends on government
* Government will take measures that give maximum impact

PRIVATE PLACEMENTS
* There is animated public discourse on RBI monetising deficit
* Debate on monetising deficit not new within RBI
* Past RBI governors had to contend with monetisation debates
* Debate on deficit monetisation brought solutions like FRBM Act
* Past RBI governors found solutions based on then conditions
* On monetisation issue, must meet macroeconomic stability goal
* On monetisation issue: Macroeconomic stability is RBI's main mandate
* Always maintain all instruments are on table
* Maintain both conventional, unconventional tools on table
* Will take a judicious view when time comes on COVID bonds
* Not participated in any primary auction of T-bills, bonds so far
* RBI's operations, debt management warrant participation in secondary market
* RBI's market operations at times are for elongation of debt maturity
* Market operations also aim to fill maturity spectrum gap in RBI holding

EXIT PLAN
* Calibrated roadmap for entry, exit of accommodation is a must
* Questions on RBI, government exit plan for COVID package are pertinent
* Decision on entering, exiting from "chakravyuh" is important
* Exit plan from "chakravyuh" must be made when entering it
* Exit from "chakravyuh" must be carefully thought through
* Extraordinary steps must be taken in time, withdrawn in time
* Don't want market to think RBI is going into a tightening mode
* Will exit special measures when confident economy is near normal
* Exit from special measures should not be premature
* Won't delay withdrawal of special measures beyond a point
* At current juncture, all decision-making is tough
* COVID-19 has posed extraordinarily challenging situation

REVERSE REPO
* Repo rate, as decided by MPC, is the "single" policy rate
* Repo rate alone conveys the stance of monetary policy
* Reverse repo rate essentially a liquidity management tool
* Discussed LAF corridor, reverse repo rate with MPC earlier
* Reverse repo decision is very much in the domain of RBI
* Briefed MPC on rationale behind reverse repo rate cut
* Took MPC into confidence on reverse repo rate cut
* Low reverse repo an adverse rate for liquidity absorption
* Low reverse repo to deter banks from parking funds with RBI
* Must see low reverse repo rate as a transient arrangement
* Market should not be complacent on transient arrangements
* Transient moves due to liquidity management imperatives
* LTROs, TLTROs are at or aligned to repo rate

TLTRO-II
* Had sense TLTRO 2.0 response may not be as good as TLTRO
* TLTRO 2.0 auction results convey a "telling message"
* TLTRO 2.0 shows banks not willing to take risk beyond a point
* On TLTRO 2.0, we are reviewing whole situation
* To decide on approach to TLTRO 2.0 based on review
* Challenge of ensuring credit to smaller NBFCs remains
* To take steps to address liquidity of NBFCs as necessary
* On liquidity to NBFCs, RBI remains in battle-ready mode

STATES
* Constantly monitoring cash balances of individual states
* Hiked WMA limit of states in view of need for more cash
* Mindful that states need enough cash for fight against COVID
* RBI can activate standing deposit facility at any moment
* Not taken final view on standing deposit facility rate

CREDIT RATING, FX MARKET
* Investors trust India irrespective of credit rating
* Investors trust India irrespective of rating upgrade or downgrade
* On ratings, investors much better informed on India versus earlier
* FX market has been orderly during COVID crisis
* Fall in rupee is less when compared with other emerging economies
* Won't rule out possibility of FX inflows picking up
* FX inflows can rise due to liquidity in advanced economies
* Liquidity from advanced nations can spill over to India
* India's macroeconomic fundamentals are strong
* Indian economy stronger compared with 2008 financial crisis
* Have enough foreign exchange reserves
* In case FX outflows happen, will be able to deal with any eventuality
* Policy responses have to be out of the ordinary

RBI AUTONOMY, ROLE
* RBI's autonomy is never in doubt
* All decisions are independently taken by RBI
* RBI takes own decisions, but engages with stakeholders
* Stakeholder consultation essential part of RBI's approach
* Government is much more than a stakeholder
* Consultation flows both ways between government, RBI
* Past stint with government helps me take balanced calls
* No compromise on core principles of central banking
* Shouldn't underestimate RBI's role in tackling COVID crisis
* Monetary policy, liquidity management very powerful tools

COVID-19
* This is a time of trial, an endurance test
* We live in extraordinary times
* We Indians must remain resilient
* We must believe in our capacity to come back stronger
* Dealing with a pandemic superimposed on a slowdown
* Response to COVID crisis has to be coordinated
* All arms of public policy need to work together on COVID response
* Government has very important role in response to COVID crisis

BANKS
* March 27 norms allow banks to offer moratorium on all loans
* Bank boards must OK policy on offering moratorium on loans
* Onus on banks to offer loan moratorium based on their assessment
* Based on capital, NPA ratios, Indian banks are healthy, safe
* To take calibrated steps to protect banks' books in future
* We are constantly monitoring banking sector
* Have strengthened supervisory systems, mechanisms

NBFCs
* To take more granular look at financial companies if vulnerability seen
* Supervisory systems for financial companies more proactive now
* No policy view on limiting deposit taking only to banks
* Examining harmonising norms across bank licence windows
* In many cases, courts have reversed orders in our favour
* SC has observed RBI is "not just another regulator"

FINTECH SPACE
* India is an innovator, pioneer in payments space
* Unified Payments Interface has been commended globally
* With our advice, National Payments Corp set up global arm
* National Payments Corp arm to internationalise UPI, RuPay card
* UPI can be vehicle for cross-border money transfer, remittance
* Want fintech companies to flourish on regulatory sandbox
* Want credit flow to happen through new methods via fintech

Please click on the following link for the : Full transcript of RBI Governor’s interview to Cogencis, Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Source: rbi.org.in & http://www.cogencis.com/newssection/highlights-rbi-governor-das-comments-interview-cogencis/

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.