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Official Benchmark Policy Rate · In Force Today

5.25%

Current RBI Repo Rate (2026)

Reaffirmed at the 62nd MPC Meeting (August 3–5, 2026) · Chaired by Governor Shri Sanjay Malhotra · Unanimous 6-0 Vote · Neutral Stance

Bi-Monthly Cycle: Rate active until October 5 to 7, 2026Next Decision: October 7, 2026 (10 AM IST)

Current RBI Policy Rates & Key Financial Indicators at a Glance

Operative monetary policy rates under the Reserve Bank of India Act & Banking Regulation Act

Active & Verified

Policy Repo Rate

5.25%

Main lending benchmark

Standing Deposit (SDF)

5.00%

Operative absorption floor

MSF / Bank Rate

5.50%

Penal borrowing ceiling

Fixed Reverse Repo

3.35%

Legacy LAF facility

Cash Reserve (CRR)

4.50%

Mandatory bank reserve

Statutory Liquidity (SLR)

18.00%

G-Sec & gold reserves

Next Scheduled MPC Meeting

October 5 to 7, 2026

63rd MPC meeting & policy announcement

Why Rates Don't Change Every Month: Under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act, the Monetary Policy Committee convenes bi-monthly (every 2 months). The rate of 5.25% decided in the 62nd MPC continues as the official national benchmark until the 63rd MPC resolution in October 2026.

Key Benchmark
5.25%

Policy Repo Rate

Lending rate to banks

Floor Rate
5.00%

Standing Deposit (SDF)

Absorption floor rate

Ceiling Rate
5.50%

MSF / Bank Rate

Emergency ceiling rate

Unanimous
Neutral

Policy Stance

Growth-inflation calibrated

62nd MPC Meeting Key Decisions & Official Resolution (August 2026)

Resolution of the Monetary Policy Committee published via RBI Press Release No. 2026-2027/809 on August 5, 2026.

Official RBI PDF (310 KB)
Real GDP Growth (2026-27)6.7% Projected

Projected quarterly trajectory: Q1: 7.0% | Q2: 6.4% | Q3: 6.5% | Q4: 6.8%. Projected at 7.3% for Q1:2027-28.

Driven by resilient private consumption, robust services momentum, buoyant capital goods investment, and healthy bank credit flow.

CPI Inflation (2026-27)5.0% Projected

Projected quarterly trajectory: Q2: 4.7% | Q3: 5.9% (Peak) | Q4: 5.5%. Projected at 5.3% for Q1:2027-28.

Headline inflation rose to 4.4% in June due to food and retail fuel price revisions, while Core Inflation (ex-food/fuel) remained low at 3.9%.

Why the MPC Voted to Keep Rates Unchanged with a Neutral Stance:

1. Inflation Vigilance: While core inflation remains benign (2.3–2.5% excluding precious metals), headline inflation is expected to peak in Q3:2026-27 due to food supply pressures and geopolitical risks in West Asia impacting crude prices. The MPC remains resolute on durably aligning inflation with the 4% target.

2. Growth Cushion: Robust domestic demand, capacity utilization, and government infrastructure investments ensure India remains the world's fastest-growing major economy, giving the MPC headroom to prioritize price stability.

3. Unanimous Voting: All 6 MPC members (Governor Sanjay Malhotra, Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Shri Saugata Bhattacharya, Prof. Ram Singh, Dr. Poonam Gupta, and Shri Indranil Bhattacharyya) voted in unison to maintain the policy rate and neutral stance.

Next RBI MPC Meeting Schedule & Policy Outlook (October 2026)

63rd Monetary Policy Committee Deliberation Timeline and Rate Decision Window

Scheduled: October 5 to 7, 2026

The Reserve Bank of India convenes the Monetary Policy Committee bi-monthly. In between scheduled policy meetings, the benchmark repo rate remains unchanged at 5.25% unless unforeseen macroeconomic shocks necessitate an unscheduled off-cycle intervention. Here is the scheduled timeline and policy dynamics for the upcoming 63rd MPC meeting:

Meeting Roadmap

October 5, 2026: Day 1 internal deliberations on domestic liquidity and credit flow.
October 6, 2026: Day 2 review of global headwinds, crude benchmarks & CPI print.
October 7, 2026 (10:00 AM IST): Governor's live policy resolution & press meet.

Key Deciding Factors

The MPC will assess post-monsoon kharif crop arrivals, Q2 retail food prices, crude oil volatility from Middle East geopolitical developments, and federal capex execution before reconsidering the 'Neutral' policy stance.

Borrower Impact Window

If the MPC cuts or holds the repo rate in October, commercial banks (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, PNB) are required to reset their external benchmark lending rates (EBLR/RLLR) for home and business loans within their quarterly reset windows.

Interactive Repo Rate to Home Loan EMI Calculator

Simulate how a potential 25 bps or 50 bps rate cut at the next MPC meeting impacts your monthly EMI and lifetime interest.

Live EBLR Simulator
₹50.0 Lakh (₹50,00,000)
₹5 Lakhs₹50 Lakhs₹1 Crore₹2 Crores
8.50% p.a.
6.5%8.5% (Typical Bank EBLR)12.0%
20 Years (240 Months)
5 Yrs15 Yrs20 Yrs30 Yrs
Current Monthly EMI

43,391/mo

Total Interest Payable: ₹54,13,840

If RBI Cuts Rate in Next Meeting:

25 bps Cut (-0.25%)

New Rate: 8.25%

Save ₹788/mo

1,89,120 total lifetime

50 bps Cut (-0.50%)

New Rate: 8.00%

Save ₹1,569/mo

3,76,560 total lifetime

* RBI mandate requires banks to pass repo rate changes to retail borrowers within one quarter.

Complete RBI Policy & Reserve Ratios Matrix (2026)

All benchmark interest rates and statutory reserve requirements determined under the RBI Act and BR Act.

Updated: August 2026
Rate / Reserve RatioCurrent RatePrevious RatePurpose / Operational Role
Policy Repo Rate5.25%5.25%Rate at which RBI injects liquidity to commercial banks against securities.
Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)5.00%5.00%Floor rate for absorbing uncollateralised surplus liquidity from banks.
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)5.50%5.50%Penal ceiling rate for emergency overnight borrowing by banks.
Bank Rate5.50%5.50%Standard rate for long-term lending & statutory penalty calculations.
Fixed Reverse Repo Rate3.35%3.35%Legacy facility under LAF (largely superseded by the SDF window).
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)4.50%4.50%Mandatory cash balance banks must maintain with the RBI as % of NDTL.
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)18.00%18.00%Mandatory reserve invested in approved gold, cash, and G-Secs.

Major Banks Repo-Linked Lending Rates (EBLR & RLLR)

Current floating home loan interest rate bands across top Indian lenders linked to the 5.25% Repo Rate.

State Bank of India (SBI)

EBLR Benchmark8.50% – 9.15%

Repo + 3.25% onwards

HDFC Bank

Repo Benchmark Rate8.55% – 9.25%

Repo + 3.30% onwards

ICICI Bank

I-EBLR8.60% – 9.30%

Repo + 3.35% onwards

Punjab National Bank (PNB)

RLLR Benchmark8.45% – 9.10%

Repo + 3.20% onwards

Bank of Baroda (BoB)

BRLLR8.40% – 9.05%

Repo + 3.15% onwards

Axis Bank

Repo Linked EBLR8.65% – 9.35%

Repo + 3.40% onwards

What is the Current Reverse Repo Rate in India (2026)?

Fixed Reverse Repo (3.35%) vs Standing Deposit Facility (SDF at 5.00%) Explained

Operative Floor: 5.00%

Many market participants and loan applicants search for India's current "reverse repo rate". In the modern RBI operating framework, liquidity absorption is managed primarily through the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rather than the legacy Fixed Reverse Repo window:

1. Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) — 5.00%

Operative Floor

Introduced in April 2022, the SDF rate is set 25 basis points below the policy repo rate (currently 5.00%). When commercial banks deposit surplus funds overnight with the RBI, they receive 5.00%. Critically, the RBI does not need to provide government securities (G-Secs) as collateral for SDF deposits.

2. Fixed Reverse Repo Rate — 3.35%

Collateralized Window

The legacy Fixed Reverse Repo Rate remains on the books at 3.35%. Because 3.35% is significantly lower than the 5.00% SDF rate, banks do not park discretionary surplus cash through this facility. It remains retained in the RBI's regulatory architecture for specific collateralized liquidity actions.

RBI Repo Rate History — Multi-Year Track Record

Chronological record of Monetary Policy Committee decisions, rate changes, and policy stances.

MPC MeetingRepo RateChangePolicy Stance
August 2026 (62nd MPC)5.25% UnchangedNeutral
June 2026 (61st MPC)5.25% No ChangeNeutral
April 2026 (60th MPC)5.25% No ChangeNeutral
February 2026 (59th MPC)5.25%⬇️ -0.25%Neutral
December 2025 (58th MPC)5.50%⬇️ -0.25%Neutral
October 2025 (57th MPC)5.75% No ChangeNeutral
August 2025 (56th MPC)5.75%⬇️ -0.25%Accommodative
June 2025 (55th MPC)6.00%⬇️ -0.25%Accommodative
April 2025 (54th MPC)6.25%⬇️ -0.25%Neutral
February 2025 (53rd MPC)6.50%⬇️ -0.25%Neutral
December 2024 (52nd MPC)6.75%⬇️ -0.25%Neutral
October 2024 (51st MPC)6.75% No ChangeWithdrawal
August 2024 (50th MPC)6.50% No ChangeWithdrawal
June 20246.50% No ChangeWithdrawal

* Historical rates compiled from official RBI Monetary Policy statements and gazettes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Authoritative answers regarding current repo rates, MPC bi-monthly schedules, and bank lending impact.

Q: What is the current RBI repo rate in India today (2026)?

A: The current RBI repo rate is 5.25%. It was reaffirmed at the 62nd Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held from August 3 to 5, 2026, under the chairmanship of Governor Shri Sanjay Malhotra. The MPC voted unanimously (6-0) to maintain a Neutral stance. Because the MPC reviews rates bi-monthly, 5.25% remains India's active statutory benchmark rate until the next MPC meeting in October 2026.

Q: Why does the RBI repo rate only change every 2 to 3 months?

A: Under Section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Monetary Policy Committee is statutory mandated to meet at least four times a year, operating on a bi-monthly schedule (every 2 months: February, April, June, August, October, December). Rate decisions remain active throughout the two-month interim between meetings unless an extraordinary off-cycle meeting is convened.

Q: When is the next RBI MPC meeting in 2026?

A: The next RBI Monetary Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for October 5 to 7, 2026. The 3-day meeting begins with internal evaluations, concluding on the final day with the policy statement announcement by the Governor at 10:00 AM IST. Detailed meeting minutes are published 14 days later.

Q: What is the difference between Repo Rate, SDF Rate, and Fixed Reverse Repo Rate?

A: The Repo Rate (5.25%) is the rate at which RBI lends short-term liquidity to banks against collateral. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate (5.00%) is the operative floor rate at which banks deposit surplus funds with RBI without collateral. The Fixed Reverse Repo Rate (3.35%) is a legacy facility largely superseded by the SDF window.

Q: What is the current Bank Rate in India, and how does it affect MSMEs?

A: The current Bank Rate is 5.50% (aligned with the Marginal Standing Facility rate). Beyond emergency bank borrowing, the Bank Rate serves as the statutory benchmark for commercial penalties. For example, under Section 16 of the MSMED Act, 2006, delayed payments to registered MSMEs attract mandatory compound monthly interest at three times the Bank Rate (16.50% p.a.).

Q: How does the current repo rate affect floating home loan EMIs?

A: All floating-rate retail loans (home and personal loans) sanctioned by commercial banks are mandated by the RBI to be linked to External Benchmark Lending Rates (EBLR). With the repo rate at 5.25%, home loan interest rates average between 8.40% and 9.35% p.a. across major lenders (SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank), keeping monthly borrower EMIs stable.

Q: What were the GDP growth and inflation forecasts in the 62nd MPC resolution?

A: For FY 2026-27, the RBI MPC projected real GDP growth at 6.7% (Q1: 7.0%, Q2: 6.4%, Q3: 6.5%, Q4: 6.8%) and headline CPI inflation at 5.0% (Q2: 4.7%, Q3: 5.9%, Q4: 5.5%).

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Last updated: August 2026 · Official Source: Reserve Bank of India Press Release No. 2026-2027/809

Disclaimer: Content provided for informational and corporate compliance intelligence purposes. For official regulatory circulars, visit rbi.org.in.