Opinion | RBI vs govt: This truce is a defeat for central bank
6 years, 1 month ago

Opinion | RBI vs govt: This truce is a defeat for central bank

Live Mint  

Many of us will have breathed a sigh of relief as, after a marathon eight-hour meeting on Monday, it looked like India’s government and its central bank had finally made peace with each other after weeks of very public sniping. The RBI’s board, which contains several government nominees, agreed to set up a committee to examine the bank’s reserves, one whose membership would be “jointly determined” by the finance minister and the RBI governor. This isn’t the worst-case scenario; that would have involved the government invoking a never-before-used clause of the law governing the RBI and forcing the transfer of reserves, probably prompting Governor Urjit Patel’s resignation. On the other hand, one of the great achievements of successive Indian governments over the past couple of decades has been to increase the RBI’s institutional independence -- capped by the current government’s laudable decision to allow an independent committee to set monetary policy, with a clear inflation target. Forcing the RBI to toe the government’s line on liquidity, reserves or banking supervision would reverse that trend and create an institutional vacuum that India simply cannot afford.

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History of this topic

Raghuram Rajan recalls having ’plenty of cooperation’ with govt as RBI governor: ‘Whether BJP or Congress…’
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Raghuram Rajan recalls having ’plenty of cooperation’ with govt as RBI governor: ‘Whether BJP or Congress…’

Live Mint  

Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan recalled having an amicable relationship with the government during his tenure as RBI governor — irrespective of the party in power. The former top official also recalled a conversation with then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley where he was given the green signal to “clean up” the system after bad loans “tumbled out” during an asset …

Key decisions of central bank cannot be left to politicians, says former RBI Governor Subbarao
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Key decisions of central bank cannot be left to politicians, says former RBI Governor Subbarao

The Hindu  

Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Duvvuri Subbarao on April 24 said key decisions tasked to the central bank such as reining in inflation änd ensuring price stability cannot be delegated to politicians as the latter have a short cycle. “You can’t leave those decisions to politicans.,” the former IAS officer said, pointing out that decisions on price …

Demand for ₹ 2-3 trillion sparked RBI-govt clash, says Viral Acharya
1 year, 4 months ago

Demand for ₹ 2-3 trillion sparked RBI-govt clash, says Viral Acharya

Live Mint  

New Delhi/Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India refused the government’s proposal to extract ₹2-3 trillion from its balance sheet in 2018 for pre-election expenditure ahead of Lok Sabha polls in the following year, former RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya said in a new prelude to his book, Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India published by Penguin Random House India. …

Reimagining how the Reserve Bank functions
2 years ago

Reimagining how the Reserve Bank functions

Hindustan Times  

The Supreme Court judgment on demonetisation last week appears to have reignited the debate on the relationship between the Reserve Bank of India and the Union government. The parliamentary committee wants to ensure that financial regulators such as RBI are adequately prepared to support India’s growth journey, the chair of the committee, Jayant Sinha, said in an interview to Mint …

No Plan To Replace Mahatma Gandhi On Indian Currency And Bank Notes, Clarifies RBI
2 years, 7 months ago

No Plan To Replace Mahatma Gandhi On Indian Currency And Bank Notes, Clarifies RBI

ABP News  

The Reserve Bank of India on Monday clarified that reports doing the rounds in certain sections of the media about the central bank considering changes to the existing currency and banknotes by replacing the face of Mahatma Gandhi with that of others is not true. According to the latest circular on Monday, the central bank said that there are reports …

The Hindu Explains | What has the RBI cautioned against in its latest Financial Stability Report?
3 years, 11 months ago

The Hindu Explains | What has the RBI cautioned against in its latest Financial Stability Report?

The Hindu  

The story so far: On Monday, the Reserve Bank of India released the 22nd issue of its biannual Financial Stability Report outlining the risks to financial stability as well as the resilience of the financial system in the contemporary context. In his foreword, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das flagged the many risks ahead, including the recent, accentuating “disconnect between certain segments …

‘Dangerous’: Chidambaram on RBI Proposal on Corporates in Banking
4 years, 1 month ago

‘Dangerous’: Chidambaram on RBI Proposal on Corporates in Banking

The Quint  

He also added that “it is no secret which politically connected business houses will get the first licences and increase their monopolistic power” if the proposal is administered. Speaking for the importance of neutrality of banks, which is maintained even in developed economies, Chidambaram said “It is shocking that such an idea should have been presented to the people as …

Needed: A new relationship contract between RBI and govt
4 years, 4 months ago

Needed: A new relationship contract between RBI and govt

Live Mint  

Two recent books, one by former Reserve Bank of India governor, Urjit Patel, and the other by former RBI deputy governor, Viral Acharya, have reignited the debate on central bank autonomy in India. Section 30 of the RBI Act for instance, allows the government to “supersede” the RBI central board. The third lever of government control lies in the composition …

No reason to doubt govt on fiscal path, banking system sound: Shaktikanta Das
5 years, 3 months ago

No reason to doubt govt on fiscal path, banking system sound: Shaktikanta Das

Live Mint  

A crisis-hit banking sector that is dealing with financial frauds, liquidity concerns, violation of corporate governance norms, declining asset quality and large exposure to stressed sectors at various levels may have had a breather today when Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das assured that the sector was “sound and stable”. Speaking at a press conference after the announcement of …

Government should use RBI funds in a prudent manner
5 years, 4 months ago

Government should use RBI funds in a prudent manner

The Hindu  

After a long tug of war, the government has eventually had its way with the Reserve Bank of India, managing to get it to part with a portion of its accumulated reserves. The RBI board, on Monday, decided to transfer a massive ₹1,76,051 crore to the government, including a sum of ₹52,637 crore from its contingency reserve built over the …

Opinion | An RBI war chest that could see off a crisis
5 years, 4 months ago

Opinion | An RBI war chest that could see off a crisis

Live Mint  

The transfer of ₹1.76 trillion by the Reserve Bank of India from its coffers to the government does several important things. For one, it settles an argument over how much money RBI needs to keep for itself; the central bank says it has gone along with the recommendations of an expert panel headed by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan. One …

Opinion | RBI, the world’s model central bank? Just maybe
5 years, 7 months ago

Opinion | RBI, the world’s model central bank? Just maybe

Live Mint  

India is becoming the gold standard for monetary policy in Asia, if not the world. While global markets are giddy from hints that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates, India’s central bank has been easing since February. Passive inflation and the central bank’s full tank of gas make the case to cut even stronger. Thursday’s quarter-point reduction in the …

RBI is accountable to the government, says Bimal Jalan
6 years ago

RBI is accountable to the government, says Bimal Jalan

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India is accountable to the government and should make policies within the framework set by the government, according to a former central bank chief now heading a panel tasked with framing guidelines for the transfer of the RBI’s surplus funds to the government. Bimal Jalan, the 77-year-old ex-bureaucrat, was appointed to chair the panel …

Bimal Jalan to head panel to decide on RBI cash reserves: Former central bank governor enjoys govt support, but committee to have final say
6 years ago

Bimal Jalan to head panel to decide on RBI cash reserves: Former central bank governor enjoys govt support, but committee to have final say

Firstpost  

Jalan will lead a six-member committee which will review the status, need and justification of various provisions, reserves and buffers presently provided for by the RBI The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday formed an expert committee on economic capital framework led by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan to determine the amount of reserves it needs to keep and the …

Much ado about nothing: Demystifying the needless hue and cry over the RBI
6 years ago

Much ado about nothing: Demystifying the needless hue and cry over the RBI

Op India  

“The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable,” remarked the legendary Economist John Kenneth Galbraith. Whoever in Congress thought of RBI autonomy and role in influencing election outcome doesn’t have enough knowledge to even make credible sounding arguments. According to the RBI Act’s Section 7, “the central government may from time to time give such directions …

Opinion | Finding the right balance at the central bank
6 years ago

Opinion | Finding the right balance at the central bank

Live Mint  

The regrettable mechanics of the recent change of guard at the Reserve Bank of India raises some important questions, some long overdue, about the institution’s accountability, transparency and autonomy, and the relevance of having a governor with a strong backbone. The new approach internalised that the adoption of modern monetary management in India also favoured individuals with strong macroeconomics- or …

Facts, No Fiction: There’s a new sheriff in RBI
6 years, 1 month ago

Facts, No Fiction: There’s a new sheriff in RBI

Op India  

This week has been a roller coaster ride, from high profile extradition cases, the resignation of the RBI governor and the results of recent assembly elections. That being said, it is well acknowledged that India has one of the tightest of monetary policies and that too at a time where inflation seems to be significantly lower than even RBI’s estimates. …

Amidst speculations over Govt-RBI stand off, Jaitley asks how a mere discussion be considered ‘destruction’ of an institution
6 years, 1 month ago

Amidst speculations over Govt-RBI stand off, Jaitley asks how a mere discussion be considered ‘destruction’ of an institution

Op India  

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, while speaking at the Times Networks India Economic Conclave today, stated that though there are ‘two or three areas of differences’ between the RBI and the Government, how a mere discussion on its functioning could be considered “destruction” of an institution. Amidst allegations by the opposition that his government has created a situation wherein the Reserve …

Shaktikanta Das’s 1st board meet as RBI chief to pose new worries about autonomy
6 years, 1 month ago

Shaktikanta Das’s 1st board meet as RBI chief to pose new worries about autonomy

Hindustan Times  

The central bank board will meet on Friday with much of the hostility of the past two months with the government having eased, and new worries emerging about the institution’s independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a new ally at the Reserve Bank of India in Governor Shaktikanta Das, who may be more amenable to the government’s requests to ease …

Shaktikanta Das, who oversaw demonetisation, is new RBI governor
6 years, 1 month ago

Shaktikanta Das, who oversaw demonetisation, is new RBI governor

Live Mint  

New Delhi/Mumbai: The government on Tuesday appointed Shaktikanta Das, member of the fifteenth finance commission, as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India, a day after Urjit Patel resigned at the end of a bruising tussle with the government over the regulator’s independence and the regulation of banks. Das, who was secretary in the department of economic affairs when …

Government to run power play at next RBI board meeting on 14 December; tensions likely to re-surface
6 years, 1 month ago

Government to run power play at next RBI board meeting on 14 December; tensions likely to re-surface

Firstpost  

Like the government, most board members feel that RBI should be “more transparent and accountable” for its decisions Mumbai/ New Delhi: For all the cordiality on show at the end of Reserve Bank of India’s last board meeting, tensions could re-surface when it next gathers on 14 December as the government aims to ramp up pressure for changes in the …

Govt, RBI should have continuous dialogue to address problems affecting economy: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu
6 years, 1 month ago

Govt, RBI should have continuous dialogue to address problems affecting economy: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu

Firstpost  

New Delhi: In an apparent reference to the recent spat between the government and the Reserve Bank, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said there should be a regular dialogue between the two in the boardroom to arrive at solutions to address problems affecting the economy. Amid growing tensions with the central bank, the Finance Ministry had earlier sought …

Govt wants to discuss RBI ‘governance issues’ with it
6 years, 1 month ago

Govt wants to discuss RBI ‘governance issues’ with it

Hindustan Times  

The Centre wants to discuss changes to the Reserve Bank of India’s governance structure at a board meeting next month, including setting up some oversight panels, economic secretary Subhash Chandra Garg told a news channel. The proposals to discuss governance at the RBI’s December 14 board meeting may further inflame tensions between the finance ministry and central bank. Worsening tensions …

Govt does not need money from RBI in next 6 months, says Arun Jaitley; 'respect autonomy' of central bank
6 years, 1 month ago

Govt does not need money from RBI in next 6 months, says Arun Jaitley; 'respect autonomy' of central bank

Firstpost  

Critics accuse the government of trying to undermine the RBI’s authority, but Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said his government respected the institution’s independence. Mumbai: The government does not need money from the Reserve Bank of India in the next six months,finance minister Arun Jaitley said in a TV interview telecast on Friday, rejecting Opposition charges the government was seeking access …

Arun Jaitley says government does not need RBI funds in next six months, Centre keen to gain control over bank reserves
6 years, 1 month ago

Arun Jaitley says government does not need RBI funds in next six months, Centre keen to gain control over bank reserves

Firstpost  

Critics accuse the government of trying to undermine the RBI’s authority, but Arun Jaitley said the BJP-led government respected the institution’s independence. Mumbai: India does not need money from the Reserve Bank of India in the next six months, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said in a TV interview on Friday, rejecting opposition charges the government was seeking access to …

Govt slugfest with RBI finally ends in a draw
6 years, 1 month ago

Govt slugfest with RBI finally ends in a draw

Deccan Chronicle  

It was an unequal fight to begin with. Raghuram Rajan, arguably the most flamboyant RBI governor in recent times, who set in motion the deep reforms of banks by tightening prudential oversight, was fond of citing the god of the bond market as the final arbiter of the central bank’s performance. An ugly public spat with the RBI could rake …

P Chidambaram attacks govt over rocky ties with RBI, says FM and central bank governor worked closely under UPA
6 years, 1 month ago

P Chidambaram attacks govt over rocky ties with RBI, says FM and central bank governor worked closely under UPA

Firstpost  

Hyderabad: The finance minister and RBI governor used to work closely when the UPA was in power unlike under the current government, Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Wednesday, slamming the Modi dispensation over its rocky ties with the central bank. He also questioned the government’s high GDP growth number when vital economic indicators like household savings, industrial credit, export …

It is ceasefire, not a truce between RBI and govt
6 years, 1 month ago

It is ceasefire, not a truce between RBI and govt

Live Mint  

Markets are considerably relieved that the unhealthy spat between the Reserve Bank of India and the government has been diffused after a nine-hour board meet on Monday. The Indian rupee rose and bonds gained, an indication that the absence of a raid on the central bank’s balance sheet was welcomed. What was feared to end in a possible exit of …

Expert committee to look into issues concerning capital surplus: RBI
6 years, 1 month ago

Expert committee to look into issues concerning capital surplus: RBI

India TV News  

Signalling a temporary truce, the Reserve Bank and the government Monday agreed to refer to an expert committee the contentious issue of appropriate size of reserves that the RBI must hold, while restructuring of stressed loans of small businesses would be considered by the central bank. The setting up of the committee, whose members will be decided by the government …

RBI board meet today: Amid tiff with government, central bank likely to debate liquidity crisis
6 years, 1 month ago

RBI board meet today: Amid tiff with government, central bank likely to debate liquidity crisis

Firstpost  

The RBI board is also expected to discuss issues related to making relaxations to its Prompt Corrective Action framework to clean up the balance sheet of banks burdened with NPAs. Mumbai: The RBI’s crucial board meeting on Monday is expected to take up the liquidity crisis that initially triggered a tiff between the government and the central bank, according to …

RBI complains too much; its role has been better defined, powers expanded over four years of Narendra Modi govt
6 years, 1 month ago

RBI complains too much; its role has been better defined, powers expanded over four years of Narendra Modi govt

Firstpost  

There is a deluge of expert and academic opinion on the current Reserve Bank of India - Government ‘confrontation’. To quote: “Governments that do not respect central bank independence will sooner or later incur the wrath of the financial markets, ignite economic fire and come to rue the day they undermined an important regulatory institution.” Now, for a top RBI …

Expect the best & the worst at RBI board meeting today
6 years, 1 month ago

Expect the best & the worst at RBI board meeting today

Live Mint  

Mumbai: If the acrimonious run-up to a key board meeting of the Reserve Bank of India is any indication, investors should brace for a period of uncertainty. Eventually, it will depend on the stance RBI adopts, rather what its reclusive governor Urjit Patel chooses to do at the central bank’s board meeting on Monday; so far, Patel has not signalled …

Government, RBI must work together, end turf war
6 years, 1 month ago

Government, RBI must work together, end turf war

Deccan Chronicle  

The ostentatious turf battle between the Union finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India is not the real issue. As India still reels under the socialist module of controlling economic activities, which the present government perpetuates, the public sector banks are pushed and prodded to finance government schemes, whether it be infrastructure projects, agriculture loans and loan waivers, start-up …

Opinion | A thin line divides RBI autonomy, alignment
6 years, 1 month ago

Opinion | A thin line divides RBI autonomy, alignment

Live Mint  

The tawdry, and discreditable, public feud between the government and the Reserve Bank of India seems to indicate that, in the midst of many shortages, the government is hoarding reserves of surplus political capital. Things must have gone terribly wrong and relations deteriorated irreconcilably for the government to situate a routine central bank board meeting squarely in the piazza of …

RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya in government crosshairs
6 years, 2 months ago

RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya in government crosshairs

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The government may train its guns on Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Viral Acharya if the confrontation with the central bank escalates at the RBI board meeting on 19 November, a person familiar with the deliberations within central bank’s board said. In case discussions between the government and RBI break down, the government may choose to invoke …

Dear govt, RBI income is not meant for your expenses
6 years, 2 months ago

Dear govt, RBI income is not meant for your expenses

Live Mint  

What would a householder do when its expenses threaten to outstrip income? Hence when it looked like its fiscal math was too difficult to manage, the government seems to have hit upon a new reserve, called the Reserve Bank of India. The latest string of arguments from the government including tweets of the economic affairs secretary suggest that the government …

Stage set for another RBI-govt showdown
6 years, 2 months ago

Stage set for another RBI-govt showdown

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The stage is set for another showdown between the Reserve Bank of India and the Union government with the Centre sticking to its ground on Friday. Discussions are underway with the RBI to decide the appropriate economic capital framework of the central bank, Subhash Chandra Garg, secretary of the department of economic affairs, said on Twitter. In a …

RBI Deputy Governor’s remarks against Govt are unbecoming and betray the tradition of the institution
6 years, 2 months ago

RBI Deputy Governor’s remarks against Govt are unbecoming and betray the tradition of the institution

Op India  

As a former officer of the Reserve Bank of India, I was shocked to read the recent remarks of Viral Acharya, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. The RBI, India’s Central Bank is a venerable institution that effuses dignity and reverence in the world of banking and finance, not only in India but the world over. That the …

Govt to continue pressing Reserve Bank of India for relaxing norms, funds to boost lending
6 years, 2 months ago

Govt to continue pressing Reserve Bank of India for relaxing norms, funds to boost lending

Firstpost  

The reports of rift between the central bank and the government surfaced last month following which the finance ministry reportedly started discussion with the RBI under the never-used before Section 7 of the RBI Act. New Delhi: Keeping up the heat on the Reserve Bank of India, the government will continue to press the central bank to relax norms to …

Govt wants RBI to transfer its surplus of Rs 3.6 lakh crore; central bank believes move will impact macroeconomic stability
6 years, 2 months ago

Govt wants RBI to transfer its surplus of Rs 3.6 lakh crore; central bank believes move will impact macroeconomic stability

Firstpost  

RBI is of the view that the use of its reserves will hurt the government’s commitment to fiscal prudence. The finance ministry reportedly wants Reserve Bank of India to transfer a surplus of Rs 3.6 lakh crore and believes that the central bank’s capital requirements and terms for the transfer of its reserves to the government are based on a …

RBI autonomy: Bimal Jalan says it’s central bank’s job to implement govt policy, governor should quit if differences cannot be resolved
6 years, 2 months ago

RBI autonomy: Bimal Jalan says it’s central bank’s job to implement govt policy, governor should quit if differences cannot be resolved

Firstpost  

The sharply depreciating rupee amidst rising global oil prices and the massive foreign funds outflow from the capital market are not crises If there are irreconcilable differences of opinion between the government and the regulator, then ‘whoever is heading the agency should step down,’ said Bimal Jalan, former governor to RBI to Mint. The sharply depreciating rupee amidst rising global …

Opinion | RBI is from Mars, finance ministry is from Venus
6 years, 2 months ago

Opinion | RBI is from Mars, finance ministry is from Venus

Live Mint  

India’s worst kept secret is that the Reserve Bank of India and the finance ministry do not get along. If the government has to walk alone to face the challenge of growth, we will walk alone.” Part of the reason for the excessive blood letting this time was the strategic leaks of hostile communications between the finance ministry and RBI, …

Finance Ministry baits RBI afresh, two days after declaring truce
6 years, 2 months ago

Finance Ministry baits RBI afresh, two days after declaring truce

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Two days after declaring a truce with the Reserve Bank of India, the ministry of finance has baited the central bank again, pointing out that the financial markets remain resilient and there are no signs of the wrath of the market. Garg’s comments are seen as a response to a speech by RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya last …

RBI-govt spat: International Monetary Fund against interference that compromises central bank's independence
6 years, 2 months ago

RBI-govt spat: International Monetary Fund against interference that compromises central bank's independence

Firstpost  

The standoff was in relation to RBI’s handling of weak public sector banks, tight liquidity in the market and ways of resolving bad loans in the power sector. I’ve said this before standing here that we support clear lines of responsibility and accountability… And, international best practice is that there should be no government or industry interference that compromises the …

Opinion | The ball was always in the government’s court
6 years, 2 months ago

Opinion | The ball was always in the government’s court

Live Mint  

Amid speculation that Reserve Bank of India governor Urjit Patel might quit, the government did well on Wednesday to issue a statement, highlighting that the autonomy of the central bank is essential. Section 7 of the RBI Act says that “The Central government may from time to time give such directions to the bank as it may, after consultation with …

The cast of characters in the Govt vs RBI fight
6 years, 2 months ago

The cast of characters in the Govt vs RBI fight

Live Mint  

A day after the two sides publicly and bitterly crossed each other, the Reserve Bank of India and the union government took a step back on Wednesday. Here’s a look at the key personalities involved in the public spat: Urjit Patel, governor of the Reserve Bank of India RBI governor Urjit Patel’s silence is also his biggest weapon: he has …

Public Airing Of Rift Between RBI, Govt Must Stop: Rakesh Mohan
6 years, 2 months ago

Public Airing Of Rift Between RBI, Govt Must Stop: Rakesh Mohan

The Quint  

Public sparring between the central government and the central bank is not healthy for an economy like India, cautioned former Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan. “I do hope that saner heads will prevail.” On Friday, RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya, in a public speech, aired concerns over some of the ways in which the government could impinge …

Govt vs RBI: Arun Jaitley, Urjit Patel settle for an uneasy truce, for now
6 years, 2 months ago

Govt vs RBI: Arun Jaitley, Urjit Patel settle for an uneasy truce, for now

Live Mint  

New Delhi/Mumbai: A day after the two sides publicly and bitterly crossed each other, the Reserve Bank of India and the union government took a step back on Wednesday. Conceding that differences can arise, the carefully-worded finance ministry release admonished RBI, saying, “ government of India has never made public the subject matter of those consultations. The first letter was …

Why RBI and government are fighting
6 years, 2 months ago

Why RBI and government are fighting

India Today  

When Raghuram Rajan exited the RBI governor’s office in September 2016 and Urjit Patel was elevated from the deputy governor’s position to the head of the central bank, it was thought that the government-RBI tussle would end. Urjit Patel was considered the government’s blue-eyed boy in the RBI as an answer to his rock star predecessor, who stonewalled all attempts …

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