Core Points - Banks across India will be closed for four days next week due to various festivals including Holi and Holika Dahan from March 2 to March 8 [1][6] - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a total of 18 holidays for all public and private banks in March, including weekends [1][5] - Bank holidays may vary by state due to regional requirements, and customers are advised to check with their local branches for specific holiday schedules [2] Holiday Schedule - March 2: Holika Dahan in Kanpur and Lucknow [6][7] - March 3: Holi (Second Day), Dol Jatra, Dhulandi, Holika Dahan, and Attukal Pongala in multiple cities including Mumbai, Bhopal, and Kolkata [6][7] - March 4: Holi (Second Day) and Yaosang in various locations including Agartala, Ahmedabad, and New Delhi [6][8] - March 8: Weekly off observed nationwide [6][8] Banking Operations - Online and mobile banking services will remain operational during national holidays unless otherwise notified [4] - ATMs will be available for cash withdrawals, and app and UPI services will function as usual [4]

To begin with, the retirement fund body will fill up vaccines in its investment division, a key vertical responsible for investments of its over ₹28 lakh crore of corpus to fetch high rate of returns. This set of officers will act as an independent sounding board to the investment committee of the central board of trustees of the EPFO. ET BureauPolicy amended as open market hiring seen time-consumingThe estimated vacancies across cadres and divisions of the EPFO stand at more than 4,000. "In order to ensur ...

Large cash infusions by India’s central bank are delivering what some analysts describe as stealth policy easing, pushing a key overnight borrowing gauge well below the benchmark rate https://t.co/4ljgpqpK3D ...

The Reserve Bank of India plans to permit banks to lend directly to REITs, a move that could unlock fresh funding for property assets and boost the sector’s growth https://t.co/23eEsT0jWB ...

The Reserve Bank of India kept rates unchanged, with higher government spending and a surprise US trade deal boosting the outlook for economic growth https://t.co/OCa5dlH9Ob ...

Core Insights - The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will announce decisions from its first meeting of 2026, focusing on interest rates, inflation targets, and growth projections [1] - The MPC is expected to maintain the current repo rate amid global economic uncertainty and domestic currency volatility [3] Meeting Schedule - The bi-monthly MPC meeting is set for February 4 to February 6, 2026, with the policy outcome announced at 10:00 a.m. IST on February 6, followed by a press conference at 12:00 noon IST [2] Economic Projections - The RBI has revised its GDP growth rate projection for FY26 to 7.3%, an increase of 50 basis points from previous estimates, while inflation is projected at 2% for FY26 [4] - The Economic Survey 2025-26 forecasts India's real GDP growth at 7.4% for FY26 and between 6.8% to 7.2% for FY27 [4] Recent Rate Changes - In 2025, the RBI implemented several rate cuts: 25 basis points in February, April, and December, and 50 basis points in June, maintaining a neutral stance throughout the year [5]

India’s central bank is exploring changes to its supervisory framework for lenders, transitioning from traditional compliance checks to a more detailed review of banks’ operations, reported Bloomberg citing sources. According to the sources, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intends to shift its focus from examining financial ratios in isolation at each inspection to assessing how banks actually run their businesses. The sources noted that discussions on the overhaul are ongoing, and specifics may change. ...

Even after the Reserve Bank of India cut rates more than 1 percentage point and pumped record amounts of cash into the economy, investors are refusing to push down bond yields https://t.co/XzcTjfKNiT ...

Core Viewpoint - The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee is expected to maintain the policy rate at 5.25%, indicating a pause in rate cuts after previous easing measures [1][3][4]. Monetary Policy Outlook - A Mint poll indicates that nine out of ten economists predict the repo rate will remain unchanged at 5.25%, with only one economist expecting a 25-basis-point cut to 5.00% [1]. - The MPC is anticipated to keep a 'neutral' stance, allowing flexibility in future policy adjustments [2][4]. - The focus is shifting towards liquidity management rather than rate adjustments, as systemic liquidity remains low [2][6]. Liquidity Concerns - As of February 2, liquidity in the banking system was in surplus of ₹1.7 trillion, but pressures persist due to RBI's foreign exchange interventions [7][9]. - Economists suggest that the RBI should prioritize easing liquidity through open market operations (OMOs) and dollar buy-sell swaps [6][7]. - A potential temporary 1% cut in the cash reserve ratio (CRR) may occur if liquidity pressures continue [10][11]. Inflation and Growth Dynamics - Inflation is expected to average around 4% in FY27, aligning with the RBI's target, while growth indicators show improvement [3][4]. - The MPC is likely to wait for the new consumer price index (CPI) series release on February 12 before making significant policy changes [12][13]. - The current CPI inflation forecast for FY26 is expected to remain at 2.0%, with a possible downward adjustment for the January-March quarter [14]. Economic Context - The conclusion of the 125-basis-point easing cycle is attributed to strong domestic growth, with expectations of growth remaining above 7.6% despite global uncertainties [5][14]. - Recent government borrowing programs and the India-US trade deal are not expected to significantly impact the MPC's immediate decisions [4][14].

The ECB, which also publishes quarterly surveys on bank lending and professional forecasters’ economic views in the coming week, is one of a dozen central banks due to set rates. The UK, Mexico and the Czech Republic are also expected to hold, while India and Poland may cut. Australia’s RBA might become the first major central bank to hike this year.“Europe has had a geopolitically turbulent start to the year, and the ECB will likely continue to focus on the forest instead of the trees. That means it will p ...