Tag: Reserve Bank of India

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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…

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RBI May Permit Banks to Lend to REITs

MUMBAI: On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India proposed allowing banks to extend loans to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) with specific prudential safeguards, aiming to enhance the financing pool for the real estate industry. REITs are investment vehicles that manage income-producing real estate, offering investors a way to earn a portion of the income without directly buying properties. Developed in India, REITs and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) aim to liberate banks’ funds tied up in completed and operational real estate and infrastructure projects by refinancing these with pooled resources from institutional and retail investors. Initially, commercial banks were not…

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…

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

Unity Small Finance Bank Wins Auction for Aviom India Housing

MUMBAI: Unity Small Finance Bank has successfully bid for the bankrupt Aviom India Housing Finance, offering an upfront payment of ₹977.5 crore, according to sources familiar with the matter. Initially, six companies expressed interest in acquiring Aviom India Housing Finance under the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) process, with three ultimately participating in the auction held last week. Areion, a fund backed by Omkara Asset Reconstruction Company, and Authum Investment and Infrastructure were the other two bidders in the auction conducted by Ram Kumar, the RBI-appointed administrator and former general manager of Punjab National Bank. “The bidding involved 13 rounds,…

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

LIC Housing Finance cuts new home loan rates to 7.15%

NEW DELHI: LIC Housing Finance Ltd announced on Monday that it has lowered its interest rate on new home loans to 7.15 percent. The new rates will take effect from December 22, 2025, with interest starting at 7.15 percent for newly sanctioned home loans. This decision comes as homebuyers continue to cautiously evaluate their purchasing choices, and the reduction is anticipated to enhance homebuyer sentiment. LIC Housing Finance aims to make home ownership more accessible with this initiative. This reduction follows the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee’s recent 25 basis points repo rate cut. Published On Dec 22,…

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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…

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RBI Cuts Key Rate to 5.25% Amid Strong GDP and Low Inflation

MUMBAI: On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India announced a reduction of 25 basis points in the policy repo rate, lowering it to 5.25 percent. This decision was shared by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra following the conclusion of a three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting that took place from December 3 to 5. The Governor noted that the MPC conducted a comprehensive review of the changing macroeconomic landscape and future forecasts before reaching a unanimous agreement on the rate cut, which takes effect immediately. During the announcement, the Governor stated, “The MPC convened on December 3rd, 4th, and 5th to…

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…

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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…

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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…