Tag: Reserve Bank of India

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…

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

Mortgage Rate War Hits Housing Finance Companies Hard

Housing finance companies (HFCs) are under considerable strain due to aggressive mortgage pricing by public sector banks, leading to reduced margins. Although loan disbursals are growing, many HFCs are not experiencing a corresponding rise in assets under management (AUM), primarily because borrowers are transferring their home loans to rival firms. In the June 2025 quarter, Bajaj Housing Finance reported a 0.5% drop in net profit, while Aadhar Housing Finance and LIC Housing Finance experienced growth rates of 10% and 5%, respectively. The recent reduction in lending rates by the Reserve Bank of India, which cut the repo rate by 100…

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

Housing Finance Firms Scrutinized for Lending Issues

The National Housing Bank (NHB) is intensifying its scrutiny of housing finance companies (HFCs) for violating loan-to-value (LTV) norms concerning high-value home loans, according to sources familiar with the matter. Regulatory inspections by the NHB uncovered instances where loans exceeding ₹75 lakh were approved with LTVs as high as 90%, breaching the established 75% limit. The NHB has instructed lenders to reclassify these loans as non-home loans (NHL). “The regulator has identified several mortgage lenders disbursing substantial amounts for high-value residential properties,” an NHB official stated. “The NHB has communicated with these firms, ordering them to cease such practices and…

IndustryLatest Stories

RBI Holds Interest Rate Steady at 5.5%

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has maintained the policy rate at 5.5% following three consecutive interest rate cuts, citing concerns over tariff fluctuations. In the announcement of the third bi-monthly monetary policy for the fiscal year, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra shared that the growth rate forecast for FY26 remains at 6.5%. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously opted to keep the short-term lending rate, or repo rate, steady at 5.5% with a neutral stance. Regarding inflation, the RBI Governor reduced the projection for the current financial year to 3.1%, down from the previous estimate of 3.7%. Since February…

IndustryLatest Stories

RBI Keeps FY26 Growth at 6.5%, Lowers Inflation to 3.1%

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India announced on Wednesday that it is maintaining its GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year at 6.5%, while reducing its inflation projection from 3.7% to 3.1%. During the release of the third bi-monthly monetary policy for 2025-26, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra noted that the favorable southwest monsoon, declining inflation, increasing capacity utilization, and supportive financial conditions are all contributing positively to domestic economic activity. The combination of strong monetary, regulatory, and fiscal policies, alongside significant government capital spending, is expected to drive demand. The services sector is predicted to maintain robust growth, particularly…

IndustryLatest Stories

NBFCs urge RBI for reduced risk weight on property loans

MUMBAI: Non-bank lenders are urging the central bank to reconsider certain regulations, including risk weights for products like loans against property (LAP). They argue that the risk profiles of these assets do not warrant being categorized alongside unsecured loans or standard mortgages. According to one source familiar with the matter, “Losses on LAP are considerably lower than those on housing loans, primarily due to heightened transaction risks in housing finance.” They feel risk weights for LAPs should be reduced or, at the very least, aligned with those of housing loans. In discussions with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), non-banking…

Latest StoriesRera

Gujarat RERA Warns on NBFC Funding for Construction Projects

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority (GujRERA) has identified significant issues in loan practices adopted by builders and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) for project financing. These issues include the mortgaging of unsold inventories from other projects and the disbursement of loans without RERA registration. To safeguard buyers’ interests, the authority plans to address these concerns with the state finance department for escalation to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). GujRERA emphasizes the necessity for a standardized operating procedure for real estate projects funded by NBFCs. Senior officials from GujRERA have noted that builders seeking funds frequently turn to NBFCs,…