The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday announced it will conduct Open Market Operation (OMO) purchase auctions of Government of India securities worth ₹1,00,000 crore to manage liquidity conditions in the financial system.
The central bank said the purchases will be carried out in two tranches of ₹50,000 crore each, scheduled for March 9, 2026, and March 13, 2026 respectively.
The move follows a review of current liquidity and financial market conditions, the RBI said in a statement.
Under the first tranche on March 9, the RBI will buy multiple government securities through a multi-security auction using the multiple price method.
The securities eligible for purchase include:
— 6.01% Government Security 2030 (maturing July 21, 2030)
— 6.10% Government Security 2031 (maturing July 12, 2031)
— 7.18% Government Security 2033 (maturing August 14, 2033)
— 6.19% Government Security 2034 (maturing September 16, 2034)
— 6.33% Government Security 2035 (maturing May 5, 2035)
— 6.92% Government Security 2039 (maturing November 18, 2039)
— 7.30% Government Security 2053 (maturing June 19, 2053)
The aggregate purchase amount for the auction is ₹50,000 crore, with no security-wise allocation specified.
Eligible participants must submit their bids electronically on the E-Kuber system, the RBI’s core banking platform, between 9:30 am and 10:30 am on March 9, 2026. The results of the auction will be announced the same day.
Successful participants must ensure the availability of securities in their Subsidiary General Ledger (SGL) accounts by 12 noon on March 10, 2026, the RBI said.
The apex bank also said that it reserves the right to determine the quantum of individual securities it will purchase, accept offers for less than the total notified amount, or buy marginally higher or lower than the the aggregate amount due to rounding adjustments.
It may also accept or reject any or all the offers, either fully or partially, without assigning any reasons, according to the release.
An OMO purchase occurs when a central bank, such as RBI, buys government securities from commercial banks and financial institutions.
This allows the apex bank to inject liquidity into the banking system by buying government bonds from the market, helping stabilise financial conditions and support credit flow in the economy.
In December 2025, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said that the monetary policy committee (MPC) of the central bank has decided to conduct OMO purchases of government securities of ₹1 lakh crore, according to PTI.
Ravi Hari is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint, where he covers major international developments, with a focus on politics, policy shifts, elections, conflicts, diplomacy, and evolving geopolitical power dynamics. He closely tracks the United States and other strategically important regions that shape global economic and political discourse. Based in Mumbai, Ravi plays a key role in planning daily news execution, delivering breaking news coverage, and producing in-depth, long-form stories tailored for a digital-first audience. <br><br> With more than 15 years of experience in digital journalism, Ravi specializes in producing and overseeing news content across multiple platforms. He is adept at delivering both breaking and analytical stories, tracking emerging trends, and implementing strategies to optimize audience engagement and visibility. He believes in delivering journalism that is accurate, insightful, impactful, grounded in integrity, facts, and thorough analysis. <br><br> Ravi has built a distinguished career across leading news and media organizations. Earlier, he worked with Moneycontrol, BTVI, and Times Now. These roles strengthened his real-time editorial decision-making, and social media strategy, while honing his ability to navigate fast-paced news cycles and deliver engaging content. <br><br> Ravi holds a Master’s degree in English, awarded with a Gold Medal. Outside of work, he is passionate about engaging with diverse perspectives and enjoys reading books on history and international relations to deepen his understanding of global affairs, as well as exploring culture, literature, and traditions to gain insights into societies. He values staying connected with friends. He is also passionate about mentoring young athletes, drawing on his own experience as a university-level table tennis player to guide and inspire emerging talent.
Eshita Gain is a digital journalist at Mint, where she joined in May 2025. She writes on corporate developments, personal finance, markets, and business trends, with a focus on delivering timely and relevant stories to a broad audience. <br><br> While her core beat lies in business and finance, she is not confined to a single niche and frequently explores stories across domains, including international relations and policy developments. <br><br> She holds a postgraduate diploma in business and financial journalism by Bloomberg from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. During her time there, she received rigorous training in tracking financial data, interpreting corporate filings, and reporting on business developments. She has pursued her graduation from St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru in a multi-disciplinary course. Her majors included Journalism, International Relations, peace and conflict studies. <br><br> Eshita has previously worked in digital marketing, which enables her to write SEO friendly copies that are clear and engaging. <br><br> Her primary interest lies in breaking down complex subjects and writing clear, accessible copies that inform readers. She aims to bridge the gap between technical financial language and everyday understanding. Outside the newsroom, Eshita enjoys reading non-fiction, and exploring new places, constantly seeking fresh perspectives and stories beyond headlines.
Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.