RBI may reduce key policy rate, says Economic Survey report

It shifted its monetary policy stance from accommodative to neutral in February 2017 and cut the repo rate by 25 basis points in August 2017.

New Delhi, August 11: For the first time, the government came out with second or mid-year economic survey for 2016-17 highlighting newer factors the economy faces since last such exercise.

With inflation ruling low, there is scope for reducing RBI's key policy rate by 25-75 basis points, said the Economic Survey-part II.

The Survey further said broadly real neutral interest rates hover around 1.25-1.75 per cent, adding "that implies neutral nominal rates -- assuming a target inflation of 4 per cent -- of 5.25-5.75 per cent".

"Today's rate is 6 per cent or about 25-75 basis points above neutral rates," it added. Noting that during 2016-17, gross bank credit outstanding grew at around 7 per cent on an average, the Survey said, "The sluggish growth can be attributed to several factors, including incomplete transmission of the monetary policy as banks had not passed on the entire benefit of monetary easing to borrowers."

It further pointed out that the twin balance sheet problem -- at the end of banks and corporates -- more attractive interest rates for borrowers in the bond market and from non- banking financial institutions are other reasons for slow bank credit growth. The Reserve Bank of India cut the policy rate by 50 basis points during 2016-17.

However, it shifted its monetary policy stance from accommodative to neutral in February 2017 and cut the repo rate by 25 basis points in August 2017. The Survey also said sluggish growth and increasing indebtedness in some sectors of the economy have impacted the asset quality of banks, which is a cause for concern.

The government amended the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, in May 2016 to provide for a revised monetary policy framework. Under the amended Act, inflation target will be set by the government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, once in every five years, which provides for a statutory basis to an empowered Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

For the period beginning from August 5, 2016 to March 31, 2021, the government has fixed the inflation target of 4 per cent with tolerance level of ± 2 per cent.

PTI