RBI MPC Meeting HIGHLIGHTS: Status quo on repo rate, policy stance—Up to Rs 25,000 compensation for money lost in fraudulent transactions

RBI MPC February Review: How will compensation for fraudulent transaction fraud work? 

The RBI has clarified how its proposed Rs 25,000 compensation cover for small-value digital fraud will be calculated, emphasising that the relief will be provided only once in a lifetime per customer to encourage greater vigilance.

Responding to Zee Business's question on cases involving OTP-related fraud and higher losses, the top brass of the RBI explains that compensation will be capped at the lower of 85 per cent of the loss amount or Rs 25,000.

According to the RBI, for instance, if a customer suffers a loss of Rs 50,000, 85 per cent of the amount comes to around Rs 42,500. Since this exceeds the cap, the customer will receive Rs 25,000 as compensation. However, if the loss is Rs 20,000, 85 per cent works out to around Rs 17,000. In this case, the customer will be compensated Rs 17,000, while the remaining Rs 3,000 will have to be borne by the individual.

RBI February Policy Update: Rs 25,000 compensation for losses incurred in small-value fraud 

The RBI has unveiled a series of measures to protect the interest of bank customers, with the governor announcing that the central bank will issue three draft guidelines focused on key areas of consumer protection.

These will address mis-selling of financial products, recovery of loans and engagement of recovery agents, and limiting customer liability in cases of unauthorised electronic banking transactions.

The RBI has announced that a compensation framework would be set up to enable customers to receive up to Rs 25,000 for losses incurred in small-value fraudulent transactions.

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RBI MPC Review LIVE: What's in it for real estate sector in February policy?

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra says that the central bank has decided to allow commercial banks to lend to real estate investment trusts (REITs) with certain prudential safeguards.

The move is aimed at further promoting financing to real estate sector, he says. 

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: RBI's steady rate shields EMIs, does nothing for affordable housing revival, says property consultant

The RBI's decision means that home loan EMIs will not change either and this will keep buyers engaged but does nothing to lift demand further and does nothing to make housing more affordable, says Anuj Puri, Chairman, ANAROCK Group. "The upside is that current house loan borrowers will not experience any EMI shocks for now, and new borrowers can plan their housing purchases with the benefit of predictability. Demand for affordable and mid-segment homes remains strong, but continues to be challenged by escalated pricing, which affects affordability. A rate cut would have potentially brought at least some fence-sitters back to the market," he says.  

Union Budget FY27 failed to deliver any notable relief to the affordable housing buyer segment, which is in dire need of proactive intervention by way of interest stimulants for both buyers and developers, adds Puri. 

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: Ajay Bagga says one rate cut remains due this year

Market veteran Ajay Bagga believes that there exists room for at least one more rate cut in the current cycle of monetary policy easing, with a cut expected in April or June. 

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: Policy slightly negative to neutral, says market expert Gurmeet Chadha

• No mention of capital outflows 
• A disconnect between the real economy and the capital market
• RBI needs to be more proactive with capital flows 
• The capital market is creeping into the real economy
• Union Budget didn't address this either

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: Central bank to launch a unified portal for lead bank data management

In the area of financial inclusion, the RBI has reviewed the Lead Bank Scheme, the Kisan Credit Card Scheme and the Business Correspondent Model, and will issue draft revised guidelines on each going forward.

It will also launch a unified reporting portal for better management of LBS data.

The scheme designates a specific commercial bank to take the lead in coordinating credit and banking services in each district. 

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: Ajay Bagga says policy along expected lines

In conversation with Anil Singhvi, market veteran Ajay Bagga says that although the policy is along expected lines, the market is expected to be slightly disappointed with the absence of a major catalyst in the February policy. 

Overall, the policy is quite clear, with the status quo on rates and stance exactly as expected. 

The new series will include components like quick commerce, which is expected to dent the inflation reading by 40 bps, says Bagga. 

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: Market guru Anil Singhvi policy exactly as expected

Zee Business Managing Editor and market wizard Anil Singhvi says that the February policy announcements are exactly along expected lines. 

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: This year, Financial Literacy Week's theme is... 

The RBI chief says that the theme of the RBI's financial literacy drive -- called Financial Literacy Week -- this year is 'KYC: Your First Step to Safe Banking'.

The central bank observes this yearly campaign covering specific themes under financial education.

This year, the campaign will be rolled out on Feb 9, says the RBI chief.

RBI Monetary Policy LIVE: Central bank to introduce 3 sets of guidelines aimed at enhancing customer safety

The three sets of guidelines will focus on:

• Mis-selling
• Recovery of loans and engagement of recovery agents
• Limiting liability of customers in unauthorised electronic banking transactions

The RBI will introduce a framework to compensate customers up to an amount of Rs 25000 for loss incurred in small-value fraudulent transactions.

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: MSME loan limit doubled to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh, says Sanjay Malhotra

The RBI has decided to increase the existing limit of Rs 10 lakh for collateral-free loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to Rs 20 lakh.

These loans are a special facility extended by commercial banks operating in the country that extends credit to eligible businesses without requiring the borrower to pledge assets such as property, machinery or deposits.

The approvals are based on factors like the business's financial strength.

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: System-level financial stability parameters continue to remain robust

The system-level financial parameters related to capital adequacy, liquidity, asset quality and profitability of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) continue to remain robust, with those of NBFCs also being sound, says the RBI chief. 

The economy, says Sanjay Malhotra, continues to register high growth despite a challenging external environment clouded by geopolitical uncertainties, with benign inflation providing the leeway to remain growth-supportive while preserving financial stability.

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE:Economic activity remains resilient, says RBI chief

Here's what the RBI Governor says:

• Activity remains resilient on the growth front 
• First Advance Estimates suggest continuing growth momentum, driven by domestic factors amidst a challenging external environment
• The growth outlook remains favourable

RBI Monetary Policy LIVE: Q2 FY27 CPI estimate revised to 4.2% 

RBI Monetary Policy LIVE: Q1 FY27 CPI estimate revised to 4.0%; FY26 inflation pegged at 2.1%

Here's a summary of the RBI's latest inflation projections: 

• 2025-26: 2.1%
• Q4 FY26: 3.2%
• Q1 FY27: 4.0%
• Q2 FY27: 4.2%

risks are evenly balanced, the central bank maintains. 

RBI Monetary Policy LIVE: Inflation projections adjusted due to surge in gold & silver rates, says Sanjay Malhotra

Excluding gold, core inflation stands stable at 2.6 per cent in December, according to the RBI chief. 

He also says: 

• Core inflation hardened to 4.6 per cent in December from 4.3 per cent in October-November due to a rise in gold prices
• Gold inflation (over 50 per cent y-o-y since October 2025) contributed disproportionately to headline and core numbers 
• Overall, the near-term domestic inflation and growth outlook remain positive

RBI Monetary Policy LIVE: Q2 FY27 consumer inflation projection revised to 4.2% from 4.0%

Overall inflation numbers are below the RBI's tolerance band, the outlook continuing to be benign, says the RBI governor.

He also says that high-frequency indicators suggest continuation of the strong growth momentum in Q3 and beyond in the current financial year, with the signing of a landmark trade deal with the EU and the US trade agreement in sight, growth momentum is likely to be sustained for a longer period.

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: US and EU trade deals to aid growth momentum for a long term

With the signing of a landmark trade deal with the EU and the US trade agreement in sight, growth momentum is likely to be sustained for a longer period, says Sanjay Malhotra. 

The MPC notes that since the last policy meeting, external headwinds have intensified though the successful completion of trade deals augurs well for the economic outlook, he says. 

RBI Monetary Policy LIVE: Q2 FY27 consumer inflation projection revised to 4.2% from 4.0%

The RBI chief says that the domestic economy is in a good spot with strong growth and low inflation amid heightened geopolitical tensions and elevated uncertainty.  

RBI Monetary Policy Review LIVE: Economic activity expected to hold up well in next year, says RBI Governor

The RBI chief says that the central bank expects economic activity to hold up well in 2026-27, with: 

• Agricultural activity supported by
  • healthy reservoir levels
  • robust rabi sowing
  • improvement in crop vegetation conditions
• Improving corporate sector performance
• Sustained momentum in the informal sector, which should boost manufacturing activity
• Firm construction sector growth
• The services sector should continuing to be resilient
• An improvement in business activity (as seen in early IT results) 

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: Policy stance unchanged at 'neutral', decision unanimous

RBI MPC Review LIVE Update: BREAKING--Sanjay Malhotra announces status quo on key rates, stance

RBI MPC Feb Review LIVE: Repo rate stands unchanged at 5.25%

RBI MPC Policy LIVE: What Ajay Bagga expects to see in today's review 

• Higher probability of no change in rates and no change in policy stance
• Liquidity crunch (market is only marginally positive on the liquidity front with the recent operations) in focus
• A CRR cut for stable and durable liquidity
• On the transmission front, deposits are down by about 80-90 bps; contraction in loans is even worse -- the transmission of existing rate cuts has taken place
• Rupee will be in spotlight; RBI's stance has been that it won't target any levels, but rupee depreciation will be one of the reasons behind today's expected status quo   
• Inflation and GDP forecasts expected to be revised in the next policy review

RBI MPC Policy LIVE: Key things to watch out for

There are five main points that are likely to be in focus in today's policy statement:

• Trade deal
• System liquidity, OMO
• Impact of liquidity measures
• Outlook on future rate cuts
• Consumption, growth and demand outlook

RBI MPC Policy LIVE: Will Monetary Policy Committee revise GDP estimates today?

The Zee Business poll of economists is leaning towards no revision in the RBI's GDP projections in the February policy review.

Two-thirds of participants expect no change in GDP forecasts. 

RBI MPC Review LIVE: Will Reserve Bank of India tweak inflation forecasts?

Two-thirds of the economists polled by Zee Business expect no change in the central bank's inflation forecasts in the February review. 

The remaining participants expect the RBI's top rate-deciding panel to adjust its inflation projections. 

RBI MPC Review LIVE: Will Sanjay Malhotra announce a cash reserve ratio cut?

Four in every five economists polled expect a downward revision in the cash reserve ratio (CRR) -- a key liquidity adjustment tool -- in the February review. 
      
 

RBI MPC Meeting LIVE Updates: Will RBI revise policy stance today?

Two-thirds of the economists polled by Zee Business expect the RBI to continue with its 'neutral' stance of policy in the February review, while the remaining participants expect a revision to 'accommodative'. 

RBI MPC Meeting LIVE: Will Sanjay Malhotra announce a rate cut today?

Four in every five economists who participated in a Zee Business poll expect no change in the repo rate in the February policy.

The remaining 20 per cent of participants expect a cut of 25 basis points.