Tag: RBI

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

Unity Small Finance Bank Eyes Housing Finance Next Fiscal Year

Unity Small Finance Bank, which missed the opportunity to acquire Aviom India Housing Finance, is focusing on exploring future prospects instead of rushing into any acquisitions, according to Jaspal Bindra, executive chairman of Centrum Group, in an interview with Atmadip Ray. Bindra also serves as a non-executive non-independent director at Unity Bank, which is predominantly owned by Centrum Group (51%). The bank plans to venture into the housing finance sector in the latter half of the year. Edited excerpts from the discussion follow: 1. Following Centrum’s housing portfolio sale, it was anticipated that Unity would enter the housing finance market.…

IndustryLatest Stories

Borrowing Limits Raised to $1 Billion, ETRealty

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India has released updated guidelines for External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs), revising limits, relaxing maturity requirements, and eliminating cost caps. Under these new regulations, eligible borrowers can secure ECBs up to the greater of $1 billion in outstanding borrowings or 300% of their net worth as per the most recent audited balance sheet. Previously, the borrowing cap was set at $750 million. This update comes at a time when India’s ECB transactions have been on the rise, with Indian companies raising a record $61 billion through this route in FY25, compared to $48 billion in FY24.…

CommercialLatest Stories

RBI to Permit Bank Lending to REITs with 10% Exposure Cap

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has suggested allowing commercial banks to extend loans to real estate investment trusts (REITs) that are registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). A draft circular has been issued with a set of prudential conditions, including norms related to leverage and security. The new regulations are expected to take effect on July 1, 2026. The central bank indicated that a bank’s total exposure to REITs should not exceed 10% of its eligible capital base, within the overall prudential ceiling for commercial real estate (CRE) exposures. Additionally, banks…

IndustryLatest Stories

RBI Holds Interest Rate at 5.25%, Pauses Rate Cuts

NEW DELHI: Following a 25 basis point rate cut in December, the RBI has opted to pause its policy rate amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. This marks the first monetary policy review since Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed the Budget for FY 2026-27. During the sixth and final bi-monthly monetary policy meeting of the current fiscal year, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to maintain the short-term lending rate (repo rate) at 5.25 percent, adopting a neutral stance. The pause in rate cuts is influenced by the consumer price index (CPI)-based retail inflation, which…

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

RBI Urges NBFCs, HFCs to Uphold Underwriting Standards

Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the content you provided: MUMBAI: On Monday, Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra emphasized the necessity for robust underwriting standards and meticulous asset quality monitoring during a meeting with senior officials from selected non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). This engagement is part of the Reserve Bank’s ongoing dialogue with regulated entities. The Governor convened with managing directors and chief executive officers (MDs and CEOs) of various NBFCs, including government-backed firms, housing finance companies (HFCs), and microfinance institutions. In his opening remarks, the Governor acknowledged the vital role NBFCs and HFCs play in promoting credit flow. He…

IndustryLatest Stories

RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25%, Boosting Real Estate Growth

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, indicating a shift towards monetary easing as inflation stabilizes at multi-year lows. This decision was made unanimously by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) during its 58th meeting held from December 3-5, 2025. With this rate cut, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate is now at 5.00%, while the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate have been set to 5.50%. The MPC has also opted to maintain a neutral stance going forward. Growth Outlook Remains Strong India’s GDP…

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

Aviom India Housing Finance Promoter Offers Dues Settlement Amid Bids

KOLKATA | MUMBAI: The promoter of Aviom India Housing Finance has proposed a settlement plan to lenders to settle Rs 1,385 crore in debts over 26 months, including accrued interest, according to sources. Promoter Kajal Ilmi presented the proposal late Wednesday while the company is under insolvency proceedings initiated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Six entities have expressed interest in takeover bids. The proposal includes an upfront payment of Rs 350 crore, with the remaining accrued interest to be paid within 24 months after the initial 26-month principal repayment. Ilmi’s plan outlines full payment to operational creditors and…

IndustryLatest Stories

RBI Exempts SWAMIH Fund from AIF Rules

BENGALURU: The Reserve Bank of India has announced a waiver of its stringent regulations concerning alternate investment funds (AIF) for a government-supported real estate rescue fund, as disclosed in a notification on Friday. The fund, named the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH), was established in 2019 to assist struggling real estate projects with debt financing for halted housing initiatives. SWAMIH is managed by SBICAP Ventures, a subsidiary of the government-owned State Bank of India, which is also a significant investor in the fund. Last year, the RBI mandated that banks and non-banking finance companies increase their provisions…

IndustryLatest Stories

RBI Could Allow Real Estate to Access Offshore Loans

A recent proposal to liberalize India’s foreign loan framework includes a change long resisted by former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governors. This involves allowing external commercial borrowings (ECBs) in the real estate sector, a move that has faced opposition since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, which was partly fueled by foreign currency debts linked to property. Past RBI governors have remained cautious about the risks of foreign investments in the real estate market due to the financial turmoil in countries like Thailand, South Korea, and Indonesia. A detailed look at RBI’s draft ECB policy shows a willingness to…

IndustryLatest Stories

RBI Holds Rates Steady Amid Trump Tariff Uncertainty

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has maintained its policy interest rate at 5.5% for the second consecutive time, citing concerns regarding tariff uncertainties. During the announcement of the fourth bi-monthly monetary policy for the current fiscal year, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously opted to keep the short-term lending rate, known as the repo rate, unchanged at 5.5% with a neutral stance. Governor Malhotra indicated that while the rationalization of GST rates could have a moderating effect on consumption and growth, developments related to tariffs may hinder economic expansion in the latter…