RBI MPC announcement today: Will Governor Sanjay Malhotra reduce repo rate?
India Today
In its December policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of India had reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points from 5.50% to 5.25%. At the same time, it retained a neutral policy stance.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will announce its latest monetary policy decision on Friday, February 6, 2026. Markets are largely expecting the central bank to keep interest rates unchanged after a long phase of rate cuts.
The six-member Monetary Policy Committee, led by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, concluded its sixth and final bi-monthly meeting of FY26 on Thursday. The repo rate decision will be announced later today, with the policy statement scheduled at 10:00 am.
This policy review comes at an important time for the economy. It follows Budget 2026 and the recent India–US trade deal, both of which have influenced expectations around economic growth, liquidity in the system, and borrowing costs for businesses and consumers.
Market participants widely expect the Monetary Policy Committee to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%. This would extend the pause after a total rate cut of 125 basis points since February 2025.
In its December policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of India had reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points from 5.50% to 5.25%. At the same time, it retained a neutral policy stance, indicating that future decisions would depend on incoming economic data and financial conditions.
Since then, inflation has remained largely under control, while growth indicators have shown mixed signals. Against this backdrop, economists and market experts believe the central bank may prefer to assess the full impact of earlier rate cuts before making any further changes.
The additional allocation will be subject to commercial establishments registering with oil companies and applying for a piped natural gas connection, according to a letter written by the oil secretary to states.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that the impact of the ongoing Iran war on the aviation sector is likely to be visible from April 1, when the Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices will be revised.
A new government directive on free seat allocation has triggered sharp opposition from airlines, who warn it could push up fares, hurt affordability and reshape how tickets are priced across India's aviation sector.
This is the third part of Lock & Key, a series that looks at how India's bank locker system works, the risks involved, and what customers need to know. After examining safety and insurance in the first two parts, this story focusses on a new problem – access.
The former RBI Govenor said a 15–20% global energy disruption would require sharp demand cuts, pushing oil to $150–$200 per barrel, risking severe economic stress if the conflict continues another month.
Venkataraman joined Flipkart in 2015 and has been part of the company's leadership team through a period of growth and restructuring. During his tenure, he helped strengthen the company's financial operations.
The gold rate today is around Rs 1.5 lakh per 10 grams for 24-carat gold, while 22-carat gold is near Rs 1.4 lakh, with prices edging higher after recent losses. Silver is also seeing a slight uptick after a volatile phase.
Early indicators suggest a positive start. GIFT Nifty futures were trading at 23,250.5 at around 08:24 am, indicating that the Nifty 50 may open above Thursday's close of 23,002.15.
With multiple energy hubs under threat, the risk to global supply chains has increased sharply. For countries like India, which depend heavily on imports, this means higher costs and tighter supply in the near term.
In a statement, the central bank said it has taken note of the recent developments at HDFC Bank and has approved the transition arrangement proposed by the bank for the position of part-time chairman.
Global brokerage JPMorgan has maintained a "neutral" rating on the stock with a price target of Rs 1,090. HDFC Bank stock is already trading near its 52-week low, adding to weak sentiment around the counter.