The central bank kept the key repo rate unchanged for an eighth straight policy meeting earlier this month saying robust economic growth will give it space to focus on bringing down inflation towards its medium-term target.
Retail inflation averaged scorching 10% in that period. Between March 2010 & October 2011, central bank raised repo rate 13 times, from 4.75% to 8.5% per annum.
In my view as the finance secretary during UPA II govt, the least RBI could have done was not to further depress the sentiment with doomsday prophecies.
In its monetary policy statement, the RBI projected the real GDP growth for the current fiscal at 6.5%, while the retail inflation was projected at 5.4%.
Speaking at an event organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Das said policy challenges for the region have accentuated due to the Covid-19 pandemic & the war in Ukraine.
With the second term of three years, Das will head the RBI till December 2024. The decision was taken by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by PM Narendra Modi.
Speaking at the National Academy of Audit and Accounts, Das emphasised the need to improve the quality and depth of audit and said RBI has taken a host of steps in that direction.
Shaktikanta Das said a lockdown, like the one experienced last year, is unlikely and asserted there was no need for a downward revision of RBI's 10.5% GDP growth forecast for FY22.
Despite growing passenger volume, 11 out of 14 carriers reported losses in 2023-24. IndiGo recorded profit of Rs 8,167 crore, which reduced to Rs 7.253 crore in 2024-25.
Dubai airshow crash & pilot death have rekindled concerns over pilot safety, and need for smarter automated systems that can step in when G-forces, temporary loss of consciousness hit the pilot.
None of Pakistan’s PMs has lasted 5 years. That the current PM has given Asim Munir 5 years shows that of all military dictatorships history has seen, Pakistan’s is most creative.
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