RBI’s Bimonthly Monetary Policy – Highlights and Key takeaways

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its 53rd meeting from February 5 to 7, 2025 under the chairmanship of Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, Reserve Bank of India. The MPC members Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Shri Saugata Bhattacharya, Prof. Ram Singh, Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, and Shri M. Rajeshwar Rao attended the meeting. The MPC revised the repo rate for the first time in two years, voting unanimously to cut it by 25 basis points from 6.50% to 6.25% in view of easing retail inflation and slowing growth. The rate cut comes even as the Rupee continues to reel to under pressure from global tariff wars. The MPC decided unanimously to reduce the policy repo rate to 6.25% at its meeting, The MPC also decided unanimously to continue with the ‘neutral’ stance and to remain unambiguously focused on a durable alignment of inflation with the target, while supporting growth.

₹2000 Denomination Banknotes – Withdrawal from Circulation; Will continue as Legal Tender

THE RESERVE Bank of India (RBI) announced the withdrawal of its highest value currency note, Rs 2,000, from circulation, adding that the notes will continue to be legal tender. It said the existing Rs 2,000 notes can be deposited or exchanged in banks until September 30, but set a limit of “Rs 20,000 at a time”.

Minimum Standards for a Currency Chest

1.  The Bank had constituted a Committee on Currency Movement (CCM) [Chair: Shri D.K. Mohanty, Executive Director]. The Committee, inter-alia, recommended that the Reserve Bank should encourage banks to open large Currency Chests (CCs) with modern facilities and Chest Balance Limit (CBL) of at least ₹ 10 billion. Accordingly, RBI decided to have the following…