RBI Governor’s Statement on Monetary
Policy
·
Decisions and
Deliberations of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
·
Assessment of Growth and
Inflation
·
Inflation
·
Liquidity and Financial
Market Conditions
·
External Sector
·
Additional Measures
·
Discussion Paper on
Expected Loss (EL) Based Approach for Loan Loss Provisioning by Banks
·
Discussion Paper on
Securitisation of Stressed Assets Framework (SSAF)
·
Internet Banking
Facility for Customers of RRBs
·
Regulating Offline
Payment Aggregators
·
Conclusion
[RBI Press Release/30.09.2022]
In the last two and half years, the world has witnessed two major shocks
– the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. These shocks have produced
profound impact on the global economy. As if that was not enough, now we are in
the midst of a third major shock – a storm – arising from aggressive monetary
policy actions and even more aggressive communication from Advanced Economy
(AE) central banks. The necessity of such actions is driven by their domestic
considerations, but in a highly integrated global financial system, they inevitably
cause negative externalities through global spillovers.
The recent sharp rate hikes and forward guidance about further big rate hikes
have caused tightening of financial conditions, extreme volatility and risk
aversion. All segments of the financial market including equity, bond and
currency markets are in turmoil across countries. There is nervousness in
financial markets with potential consequences for the real economy and
financial stability. The global economy is in the eye of a new storm.
2. Despite this unsettling global environment, the Indian economy
continues to be resilient. There is macroeconomic stability. The financial
system remains intact, with improved performance parameters. The country has
withstood the shocks from COVID-19 and the conflict in Ukraine. Our journey
over the last two and half years, our steely resolve in dealing with the
various challenges gives us the confidence to deal with the new storm that we
are confronted with.
Decisions
and Deliberations of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
3. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on 28th, 29th and 30th
September 2022. Based on an assessment of the macroeconomic situation and its
outlook, the MPC decided by a majority of five members out of six to increase
the policy repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.9 per cent, with immediate effect.
Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate stands adjusted to 5.65
per cent; and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to
6.15 per cent. The MPC also decided by a majority of 5 out of 6 members to
remain focused on withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation remains
within the target going forward, while supporting growth.
4. I would now explain the MPC’s rationale for its decisions on the
policy rate and the stance. The global economic outlook continues to be bleak.
Financial conditions are tightening and recession fears are mounting. Inflation
continues to persist at alarmingly high levels across jurisdictions. The
enduring effects of the pandemic and the geo-political conflict are manifesting
in demand-supply mismatches of goods and services. Central banks are charting
new territory with aggressive rate hikes, even if it entails sacrificing growth
in the near term. In this milieu, nervous investor sentiments have triggered a
flight to safety. The US dollar has strengthened rapidly to a two-decade high.
Several advanced and emerging market currencies are facing sharp depreciation
pressures. Emerging market economies (EMEs), in particular, are confronted with
challenges of slowing global growth, elevated food and energy prices, spillovers from advanced economy policy normalisation, debt
distress and sharp currency depreciations.
5. Against this challenging global environment, economic activity in
India remains stable. While real GDP growth in Q1:2022-23 turned out to be
lower than our expectations, the late recovery in kharif sowing, the
comfortable reservoir levels, improvement in capacity utilisation, buoyant bank
credit expansion and government’s continued thrust on capital expenditure are
expected to support aggregate demand and output in H2:2022-23.
6. Consumer price inflation remains elevated and above the upper
tolerance band of the target due to large adverse supply shocks, some firming
up of domestic demand, and the spillovers from global
financial markets. The recent correction in global commodity prices including
crude oil, if sustained, may ease cost pressures in the coming months. The
inflation trajectory remains clouded with uncertainties arising from continuing
geopolitical tensions and nervous global financial market sentiments.
7. In this backdrop, the MPC was of the view that persistence of high
inflation necessitates further calibrated withdrawal of monetary accommodation
to restrain broadening of price pressures, anchor inflation expectations and
contain the second-round effects. This action will support medium-term growth
prospects. Accordingly, the MPC decided to increase the policy repo rate by 50
basis points to 5.9 per cent and to remain focused on withdrawal of
accommodation, while supporting growth.
8. Let me step back and elaborate on our monetary policy stance.
Monetary policy had moved from neutral to accommodative stance in June 2019. At
that time, the repo rate was 5.75 per cent; headline CPI inflation was hovering
around 3 per cent and was expected to be in the range of 3.4 to 3.7 per cent in
H2:2019-20; and, liquidity was in deficit mode, with an average daily net
injection of ₹0.3 lakh crore in May 2019 under the liquidity adjustment
facility (LAF). Today, inflation is hovering around 7 per cent and we expect it
to remain elevated at around 6 per cent in H2:2022-23. Liquidity remains
surplus, with average daily net absorption of ₹1.1 lakh crore under the
LAF in September 2022 (up to September 28). As government expenditure picks up
on the back of high GST and direct tax collections, the system liquidity will
go up further. Thus, even as the nominal policy repo rate has been raised by
190 basis points so far (including today’s increase), the policy rate adjusted
for inflation trails the 2019 levels. The overall monetary and liquidity
conditions, therefore, remain accommodative and hence, the MPC decided to
remain focused on withdrawal of accommodation.
Assessment
of Growth and Inflation
Growth
9. Real GDP grew by 13.5 per cent (y-o-y) in Q1:2022-23, surpassing the
pre-pandemic level by 3.8 per cent. This was led by robust growth in private
consumption and investment demand.
10. High frequency data for Q2 indicate that economic activity remains
resilient. Private consumption has been holding up. There is a sustained
revival in urban demand which should get a further impetus from unfettered
celebration of upcoming festivals after two and half years of living with
COVID-19. Rural demand is also gaining gradually. Investment demand is picking
up and is evident from the robust growth of domestic production and import of
capital goods in July and August. Bank credit grew at an accelerated pace of
16.2 per cent y-o-y as on September 9, 2022 as against 6.7 per cent a year ago.
Total flow of financial resources from banks and non-banks to the commercial
sector has improved significantly to ₹9.3 lakh crore in this financial
year so far (up to September 9) from ₹1.7 lakh crore in the corresponding
period of last year. According to RBI survey, seasonally adjusted capacity
utilisation of the manufacturing sector improved from 73.0 per cent in Q4:
2021-22 to 74.3 per cent in Q1:2022-23 - its highest level in three years1. Non-oil
non-gold imports remained resilient, indicating sustained revival in domestic
demand. Merchandise exports growth, however, faced headwinds in an unsettled
external environment.
11. In the supply side, the agricultural sector remains resilient. The
monsoon rainfall was 7 per cent above the long period average (LPA) as on
September 29. Kharif sowing was 1.7 per cent above the normal sown area as on
September 23. The production of kharif foodgrains as
per the first advance estimate is only 0.4 per cent below the first advance
estimate of last year. The reservoir levels are at 87 per cent of the full
capacity on September 29, 2022 as against the decadal average of 77 per cent.
This augurs well for the ensuing Rabi crop.
12. Industrial activity, reflected in the growth of index of industrial
production (IIP) (y-o-y), slipped to 2.4 per cent in July. India’s
manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI), however, indicates sustained
expansion at 56.2 in August. Business sentiment, as reflected in the
manufacturing PMI, strengthened with the degree of optimism at its highest in
six years.
13. Services sector indicators2 point
towards strong growth in July and August. Services PMI rebounded to 57.2 in
August from 55.5 in July. Business confidence rose to a 51-month high.
14. Looking ahead, all these factors3 should
support aggregate demand and activity. The headwinds from extended geopolitical
tensions, tightening global financial conditions and possible decline in the
external component of aggregate demand can pose downside risks to growth.
Taking all these factors into consideration, real GDP growth for 2022-23 is
projected at 7.0 per cent with Q2 at 6.3 per cent; Q3 at 4.6 per cent; and
Q4:2022-23 at 4.6 per cent, with risks broadly balanced. The growth for Q1:2023-24
is projected at 7.2 per cent.
Inflation
15. Global geopolitical developments are weighing heavily on the
domestic inflation trajectory. Inflation inched up to 7.0 per cent in August
from 6.7 per cent in July.
16. Acute imported inflation pressures felt at the beginning of the
financial year have eased but remain elevated across food and energy items.
Edible oil price pressures are likely to remain contained on improved supply
from key producing countries and measures taken by the Government. Going
forward, there could be some tapering of selling price increases on account of
easing supply conditions and softening of industrial metal and crude oil
prices. With services activity showing strong rebound and some improvement in
pricing power, risks of higher pass-through of input costs, however, do remain.
17. There are also upside risks to food prices. Cereal price pressure is
spreading from wheat to rice due to the likely lower kharif paddy production.
The lower sowing for kharif pulses could also cause some pressures. The delayed
withdrawal of monsoon and intense rain spells in various regions have already
started to impact vegetable prices, especially tomatoes. These risks to food
inflation could have an adverse impact on inflation expectations.
18. The Indian basket crude oil price was around US$ 104 per barrel in
H1:2022-23. Going forward, we are now assuming it to be US$ 100 per barrel in
H2:2022-23. Taking into account these factors, the inflation projection is
retained at 6.7 per cent in 2022-23, with Q2 at 7.1 per cent; Q3 at 6.5 per
cent; and Q4 at 5.8 per cent, with risks evenly balanced. CPI inflation is
projected to further reduce to 5.0 per cent in Q1:2023-24.
19. The extraordinary global circumstances that caused the heightened
inflationary pressures have impacted both AEs and EMEs. India is, however,
better placed than many of these economies. If high inflation is allowed to
linger, it invariably triggers second order effects and unsettles expectations.
Therefore, monetary policy has to carry forward its calibrated action on policy
rates and liquidity conditions consistent with the evolving inflation growth
dynamics. It must remain alert and nimble.
Liquidity
and Financial Market Conditions
20. During the current financial year, the weighted average call rate
(WACR) – the operating target of monetary policy – has increased cumulatively
by 196 bps in a phased manner (up to September 28) over March 2022. This is in
sync with our actions on the SDF and the repo rate. Consequently, interest
rates across the financial market spectrum4 have
increased, though at varying degrees.
21. Surplus liquidity in the banking system, as reflected in average daily
absorptions under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) [both SDF and
variable rate reverse repo (VRRR) auctions], moderated to ₹2.3 lakh crore
during August - September 2022 (up to September 28) from ₹3.8 lakh crore
during June-July. GST and advance tax payments coupled with forex outflows
moderated the surplus liquidity conditions in the third week of September. This
necessitated recourse to the marginal standing facility (MSF) by banks and
liquidity injection by the RBI through variable rate repo (VRR) auctions. This
temporary moderation of surplus liquidity needs to be seen in the context of
the large potential liquidity in the system arising from the expected pick-up
in government spending that usually happens in the second half of the year. Furthermore,
drawdown of excess cash reserve ratio (CRR) and excess statutory liquidity
ratio (SLR) holdings of banks can also augment system liquidity.
22. In my policy statement of October 2021, I had stated that the RBI may complement the
fortnightly main operation conducted through 14-day VRRR auctions with 28-day
VRRR auctions depending upon the evolving liquidity conditions. In view of the
moderation in surplus liquidity, it has now been decided to merge the 28-day
VRRR with the fortnightly 14-day main auction. Consequently, from now on, only
14-day VRRR auctions will be conducted. Fine-tuning operations of various
maturities for absorption as well as injection of liquidity will continue as
may be necessary from time to time.
23. During the current financial year (up to September 28), the US
dollar has appreciated by 14.5 per cent against a basket of major currencies.
This has caused turmoil in currency markets globally. The movement of the
Indian Rupee (INR) has, however, been orderly compared to most other countries.
It has depreciated by 7.4 per cent against the US dollar during the same period
– faring much better than several reserve currencies as well as many of its EME
and Asian peers.
24. A stable exchange rate is a beacon of financial and overall
macroeconomic stability and market confidence. In recent days, there have been
divergent views on the exchange rate of the rupee and the adequacy of our forex
reserves. Let me set out the overall position once again. First, the rupee is a
freely floating currency and its exchange rate is market determined. Second,
the RBI does not have any fixed exchange rate in mind. It intervenes in the
market to curb excessive volatility and anchor expectations. The overarching
focus is on maintaining macroeconomic stability and market confidence. Our
actions have helped in engendering investor confidence as reflected in the
return of capital inflows since July. Over the medium term, the primacy of
price stability embedded in our flexible inflation targeting (FIT) framework
provides the anchor for exchange rate stability. Third, our interventions in
the forex market are based on continuous assessment of the prevailing and
evolving situation from the point of view of our approach which I just
explained. The aspect of adequacy of forex reserves is always kept in mind. The
umbrella continues to be strong.
25. During the pandemic, forward guidance gained prominence in the
Reserve Bank’s communication strategy. This was helpful in anchoring market
expectations. In a policy tightening cycle, however, it is arduous to provide
consistent forward guidance, particularly in a highly uncertain environment. In
fact, forward guidance may even destabilise financial markets. Questions are
often asked about the peak and terminal rates in a rate tightening cycle.
Without venturing into any forward guidance which can be hazardous in the
present context, I would like to state that our actions will be carefully
calibrated to the incoming data and evolving scenario without being constrained
by conventional or any textbook approach to policy making.
External
Sector
26. The current account deficit (CAD) for Q1:2022-23 is placed at 2.8
per cent of GDP with trade deficit at 8.1 per cent of GDP. Various leading
indicators, including global PMIs, point to weakening of global growth momentum
and downside risks to global trade. India’s import growth, though decelerating5, outpaced
export growth. Consequently, the trade deficit remained high in July-August
2022. Services exports continued to grow at a robust pace amidst resilient
demand for software and business services and modest recovery in travel
services. On a balance of payments (BOP) basis, for which data were released
yesterday, exports of services grew at a robust pace of 35.4 per cent (y-o-y)
in April-June this year. For the same period, remittances rose by 22.6 per cent.
The net surplus on exports of services is expected to partly offset the higher
trade deficit.
27. From external financing side, net foreign direct investment (FDI)
improved to US$ 18.9 billion in April-July 2022 from US$ 13.1 billion a year
ago. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have returned to the domestic market
with net inflow of US$ 7.5 billion during July-September after an outflow for
nine consecutive months. India’s foreign exchange reserve at US$ 537.5 billion
as on September 23, 2022 compares favourably with most peer economies. About 67
per cent of the decline in reserves during the current financial year is due to
valuation changes arising from an appreciating US dollar and higher US bond
yields. Incidentally, there was an accretion of US$ 4.6 billion to the foreign
exchange reserves on balance of payments (BOP) basis during Q1:2022-23. India’s
other external indicators, viz., external debt to GDP ratio; net international
investment position to GDP ratio; ratio of short-term debt to reserves; and
debt service ratio also indicate lower vulnerability as compared with most
other major EMEs6. In fact,
India’s external debt to GDP ratio is the lowest among major EMEs. In the final
analysis, we remain confident of meeting our external financing requirements
comfortably.
Additional
Measures
28. I shall now announce certain additional measures.
Discussion
Paper on Expected Loss (EL) Based Approach for Loan Loss Provisioning by Banks
29. Banks currently follow the incurred loss approach for provisioning
on their loan assets, whereby provisions on loan assets are made after the
stress has materialised. A more prudent and forward looking
approach is the expected loss based approach, which requires banks to make
provisions based on an assessment of probable losses. As a step towards
converging with globally accepted prudential norms, we will issue a discussion
paper on the proposed transition for stakeholder comments.
Discussion
Paper on Securitisation of Stressed Assets Framework (SSAF)
30. The revised framework for securitisation of standard assets was
issued by the Reserve Bank in September 2021. It has now been decided to introduce a framework
for securitisation of stressed assets. This will provide an alternative
mechanism for securitisation of NPAs, in addition to the existing ARC route. A
Discussion Paper (DP) on the proposed framework is being issued for feedback
from stakeholders.
Internet
Banking Facility for Customers of RRBs
31. Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are currently allowed to provide
Internet Banking facility to their customers, subject to fulfilment of certain
criteria. Keeping in view the need to promote the spread of digital banking in
rural areas, these criteria are being rationalised. The revised guidelines will
be issued separately.
Regulating
Offline Payment Aggregators
32. Online Payment Aggregators (PAs) have been brought under the purview
of RBI regulations since March 2020. It is now proposed to extend these
regulations to offline PAs, who handle proximity/ face-to-face transactions.
This measure is expected to bring in regulatory synergy and convergence on data
standards.
Conclusion
33. Daunting challenges confront us at this juncture. The underlying
fundamentals of our economy and the buffers built over the years have stood us
in good stead. We have taken a series of measures since April 2022 in the
backdrop of geopolitical tensions, sanctions and supply chain disruptions. We
will remain resolute and persevere in our efforts to ensure price stability as
well as financial stability, while supporting growth. Our policy action today
is part of our continued efforts in pursuit of these goals. As we celebrate
Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary in another two days, I conclude my statement
with his insightful words: “…we are ever wakeful, ever vigilant, ever
striving.”7 Today,
despite the gathering clouds over the global economy, the Indian economy
inspires optimism and confidence.
Press
Release: 2022-2023/966
1 This is notwithstanding the decline in unadjusted capacity utilisation
from 75.3 per cent to 72.4 per cent over the same period reflecting seasonal
pattern.
2 Railway freight traffic; port freight traffic; domestic air passenger
traffic; e-way bills; toll collections, etc.
3 The recovery in kharif sowing, adequate reservoir levels, an upsurge in
discretionary spending, moderation in commodity prices, Government’s continued
thrust on capex, improvement in capacity utilisation in manufacturing, pick-up
in bank credit and waning COVID-19 infections.
4 91-day treasury bills, commercial paper (CPs) and certificates of
deposit (CDs), bond yields. (The rate hikes also triggered an upward adjustment
in the benchmark lending rates of banks. In tandem, term deposit rates have
also increased as banks compete for mobilising resources to meet the resurgent
credit demand.)
5 Growth in merchandise imports moderated from 49.5 per cent in
Q1:2022-23 to 43.6 per cent in July and 37.3 per cent in August 2022.
6 Net international investment position to GDP
ratio is in terms of net claims of non-residents on India and ratio of
short-term debt to reserves is measured in terms of residual maturity.
7 The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi by R.K. Prabhu and U.R.Rao, Navajivan Mudranalaya, Ahmedabad, India; page 153