RBI monetary policy: Shaktikanta Das says central bank can't keep on slashing policy rates every time

Mumbai: After surprisingly holding the rates, Reserve Bank governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said the Reserve Bank cannot “mechanically” keep cutting interest rates every time. He said the central bank will wait for the impact of the coordinated measures taken by the government and the RBI over the past few months to push growth to play out before taking a call on rates.

Whenever we have suggestions on measures needed, we internally communicate to the govt, says @DasShaktikanta #RBIPolicy pic.twitter.com/lUs3VMGpZ3

— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) December 5, 2019

Official data showed growth has fallen to an over six-year low at 4.5 percent in the second quarter, and the RBI also sharply cut its FY20 estimate to 5 percent-a full 110 bps from its October revision, which again was a 90 bps downward revision from the August assessment. The sharp decline in growth had many analysts assuming the RBI will deliver a rate cut on Thursday. He also pointed towards a line in the monetary policy committee resolution, which makes it “explicitly” clear that there is a scope for further rate cuts. Das said there are green-shoots in the economy, but it is too early to take a call on their sustainability said the recent measures initiated by the government will help reviving sentiment and spur domestic demand, which is being blamed as prime reasons for the slowdown.