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Business News/ Market / Mark-to-market/  5 issues that’ll dominate the RBI board meeting today
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5 issues that’ll dominate the RBI board meeting today

At stake in the 'RBI vs Government' fight is an Indian economy that seems at last to be on the road to a recovery, but which also faces several headwinds

Finance minister Arun Jaitley and RBI governor Urjit Patel. It is time the government and the central bank bury the hatchet so that the Indian economy can go surely on the path of growth. Photo: HTPremium
Finance minister Arun Jaitley and RBI governor Urjit Patel. It is time the government and the central bank bury the hatchet so that the Indian economy can go surely on the path of growth. Photo: HT

Mumbai: The RBI board meeting on Monday is a crucial one that may alter the course of relations between the government and the Reserve Bank of India. The bitterness between the finance ministry and India’s central bank has reached a new high, with both camps at a standoff. Board members belonging to various parts of the industry are torn between these two camps. At stake is an economy that seems at last to be on the road to a recovery, but which also faces several headwinds. Here are five issues that are likely to dominate the RBI board meeting on Monday and their implications for the Indian economy:

Raid on institutional credibility

The government has not just come after RBI regulations, but also its balance sheet. RBI as an institution is perceived to have the intellectual capital to determine the strength of its own balance sheet. Hence, the government should leave the judgement to the technocrats of RBI. Global investors prefer political stability, but they value institutional credibility more. Respecting the institutional credibility of the RBI would soothe global investors who would soon face the uncertainty of national elections. The outflow of dollars could get worse if the central bank is portrayed as weakening.

ALSO READ | Is Reserve Bank of India hoarding too much capital?

(2) Choking credit or avoiding crisis

The government is accusing the central bank of choking the banking system by needless regulation. Some board members seem to share this view. Easing Basel norms on capital may buy the government time but it would hardly help in reducing capital infusion. Public sector banks would need colossal capital infusion irrespective of whether their minimum capital adequacy ratio is 8% or 9% simply because bad loan provisioning will remain high.

Build bridges, not burn them

The government’s demand that RBI provide support to non-bank lenders is not unreasonable. Non-bank lenders have been a critical funding source for small business as a last-mile connectivity. In the aftermath of tax reforms and demonetisation, small business have suffered and to deny them credit because of exogenous factors is unfair. The RBI too understands that non-bank lenders and banks are different and hence regulations need to be different. Giving leeway to non-banks would go in a long way to improve the fund flow to the Indian economy without compromising on prudence.

Enter the politician

The biggest worry among central bank watchers is the possibility of political motivations seeping into the functioning of RBI. Indeed, a few members of the board are known to harbour specific political affiliations. Great care should be taken by the government and RBI that political compulsions—unless accompanied by sound economic logic—do not impinge upon the functioning of the central bank.

ALSO READ | The political economy of central bank independence

Accountability good, credibility better

Globally, the conduct of central banks has come under scrutiny after the global financial crisis. The need for central banks to be accountable is recognised and RBI is not above this. To be fair, the central bank is answerable to the government and even Parliament. That said, it should have no hesitation in explaining why it does what it does in front of its board members. RBI would only strengthen its credibility in front of them.

If media reports are any indication, the government and RBI are aware of the dire consequences of a standoff between them. It is time they bury the hatchet so that the economy can go surely on the path of growth.

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Published: 18 Nov 2018, 06:52 PM IST
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