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The Banking Frontline 06 August 2026

Issue: 1289


·    Air India appoints Tewolde Gebremariam as new CEO.

·    Services growth slows markedly in July, PMI dipped to 53.3.

·    RBI marginally ups FY27 real GDP growth projection to 6.7%; slightly cuts CPI inflation projection to 5%.

·    Lower real interest rates have not hurt deposit growth, SBI.

·    Netflix launches India Storytelling Initiative after Sarandos meets PM Modi.

·    India Inc's ECB, FCCB fundraising intent rises to $6.08 billion in June.

·    RBI to absorb Rs.1.5 trillion via VRRR as liquidity tops Rs.3 trillion

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF RESOLUTION OF MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE DT 3-5 AUGUST 2026

·   The MPC voted unanimously to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent. Consequently, the SDF rate remains at 5.00 per cent and the MSF rate and the Bank Rate remain at 5.50 per cent.

·   The MPC also decided to continue with the neutral stance.

OUTLOOK

·   Real GDP growth for 2026-27 is now projected at 6.7 per cent (against 6.6 percent projected earlier), with Q1 at 7.0 per cent; Q2 at 6.4 per cent; Q3 at 6.5 per cent; and Q4 at 6.8 per cent. Real GDP growth for Q1:2027-28 is projected at 7.3 per cent.

·   CPI inflation increased to 4.4 % in June 2026 after remaining below the target for 16 consecutive months.

·   CPI inflation for 2026-27 is projected to be 5.0 per cent with Q2 at 4.7 per cent; Q3 at 5.9 per cent; and Q4 at 5.5 per cent. Inflation for Q1:2027-28 is projected at 5.3 per cent.

 

Govt approves Rs.4,687 crore to fuel India's ethanol push: The government has approved a total budget outlay of Rs 4,687 crore towards the payment of interest subvention to the eligible projects under the various ethanol interest subvention schemes, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Suresh Gopi told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The government has approved a total budget outlay of Rs 4,687 crore for interest subvention. Between FY23 and FY27 (up to July 2026), it released Rs 2,075 crore to NABARD, with almost the entire amount utilised. It also continues to support second-generation biofuel projects under the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, which provides assistance of up to Rs 150 crore for commercial-scale projects.

(Business Today)

FCNR (B) cushion lifts rupee hopes; RBI sees more forex inflows ahead:  The Reserve Bank of India had announced a special forex swap window in June as it looked to stabilise the rupee against the US dollar and shore up the reserves. Since then, there have been robust inflows, particularly in foreign currency non-resident [FCNR (B)] deposits. However, the Reserve Bank will not close the window early, said Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The concessional swap scheme for fresh FCNR (B) deposits, overseas foreign currency borrowings (OFCB) and external commercial borrowing (ECB) had received inflows of $40.8 billion as of August 1, 2026. Out of the total inflows, $36.72 billion has only been in FCNR (B) deposits, which is already exceeding the close to $26 billion that was raised via FCNR (B) deposits through a similar window back in 2013.

(Business Today)

Central banks made the highest purchase of gold in June for 2026, says World Gold Council: Central banks across the world continued buying gold for the third consecutive month in June, data from the World Gold Council (WGC) showed. It was the highest purchase by them this year.  “Central banks bought 51 tonnes of gold in June, with Poland and China continuing to lead gold accumulation. Buyers for the month included Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, the Czech Republic, Ghana and Georgia. Net sellers were Russia and Turkey,” said Marissa Salim, Senior Research Lead, APAC, WGC.  In the first half of this year, central banks reported buying 102 tonnes, with purchases spread across a broad cohort of emerging market central banks.

(Business Line)


Govt raises Rs 31,552 crore from LIC OFS in India's largest public offering ever: The government's stake sale in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has raised Rs 31,552 crore, making it the largest public offering in the country's history, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said on August 5. With this the public ownership of LIC has increased to 10 percent and it has achieved this critical milestone ahead of schedule," the DIPAM secretary said, adding, "A total of 82,23,33,558 shares have been allocated for an amount of Rs. 31,552 crores, making it India's largest public offering ever.

(Moneycontrol)

RBI targets rollout of polymer Rs.10, Rs.20 notes at start of April 2027: Plastic currency notes could begin entering circulation in India at the start of the next financial year, subject to the successful completion of field trials, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Wednesday. Addressing the media after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, Malhotra said the central bank is moving ahead with plans to introduce polymer banknotes in the Rs.10 and Rs.20 denominations on a trial basis. 

(Business Today)

RBI rules out early end to forex deposit schemes: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday said there is no proposal at present to prematurely close the concessional foreign exchange swap facility, expressing confidence that the scheme will continue to attract healthy foreign currency inflows. The FCNR(B) scheme is ending in September, while the OFCB and ECB plans will continue till December. The RBI is bearing the cost of currency hedging under the scheme.

(Financial Express)

Indian Bank targets Rs 35 lakh crore business by 2032 after crossing Rs 15 lakh crore milestone: MD & CEO: Indian Bank has set a target of achieving Rs.35 lakh crore in total business by 2032 after crossing the Rs.15 lakh crore milestone in June this year, Managing Director and CEO Binod Kumar said on Wednesday. "On 125th year, that means 2032, we have set a target of 35 lakh crore business. In June we are at 15 lakh crore. That means we have to become 2.3 times what we are. We will become a 35 lakh crore bank by 2032 and, with the support the bank is getting from the customers and the hard work of our employees, I am very confident that we will not only achieve, we will surpass that number also," Kumar said.

(Economic Times)

Urban cooperative bank license applicants need a minimum Rs 300 crore of capital and Rs 10000 crore of deposits, says RBI: The Reserve Bank of India is resuming urban cooperative bank licenses after two decades. Eligible credit societies need a minimum capital of Rs 300 crore and Rs 10,000 crore deposits. Applicants must show positive financial trends and sound credentials over five years. Societies with over ten years of existence and multi-state presence are eligible. The central bank will assess the fit and proper status of directors before approval.

(Economic Times)

RBI upper-layer NBFC list to come out soon: The Reserve Bank of India will soon release a list of upper-layer NBFCs. New principle-based regulations will classify these financial companies into different layers. Companies in the upper layer will be required to publicly list their shares. Tata Sons may be included on this upcoming list of NBFCs. The central bank has not published this specific list since January 2025.

(Economic Times)


Foreign etailers told to set up separate export-only units in India: The government on Wednesday said foreign-owned retail ecommerce (ecom) entities such as Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart will have to set up separate legal entities in India to export Indian manufactured products through the inventory model. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notified the framework after the industry department last month, via Press Note 3 of 2026 series, allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in inventory-based retail ecom entities to export domestically manufactured goods. Under the new framework, the ecom firm must register the separate entity with DGFT as an Exporter-on-Record (EOR) with an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration. Indian suppliers will be called Sellers-on-Record (SORs) with a compulsory GST registration, supplying only Indian-origin goods.

(Business Standard)

Closing price auction aftermath: NSE-BSE price gaps fuel arbitrage trades: Unusual stock price movements at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) over the past three trading sessions, since the rollout of the closing auction session, have created a price arbitrage and low-risk profit opportunity for high-frequency, high-volume traders between the NSE and the BSE. Many largecap index stocks have moved at a different pace on the two exchanges during this period. While some stocks have risen more on the NSE than on the BSE, others have posted larger gains on the BSE. This has created opportunities for day traders to buy a stock at a relatively lower price on one exchange and simultaneously sell it at a higher price on the other, pocketing the spread.

(Business Standard)


DGFT notifies export-only inventory rules for foreign-funded e-commerce firms: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has notified procedures for foreign-funded e-commerce companies to undertake inventory-based operations allowing them to hold stocks of Indian-made goods exclusively for exports. The notification, issued on Wednesday, puts into force the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s (DPIIT) July 23 decision to relax FDI rules by allowing e-commerce firms with foreign investments to hold Indian-made goods for exports. While the relaxation is limited to exports, some experts cautioned that it could eventually lead to demands for allowing foreign-funded e-commerce firms to own inventory for domestic sales as well.

(Business Line)

RBI to resume urban cooperative bank licensing process after two decades: The Reserve Bank of India will resume issuing new licenses for urban cooperative banks. This process has been paused for over two decades due to past financial instability. Draft guidelines for resuming UCB licensing have now been issued by the central bank. The operating environment for these banks has significantly transformed since 2004. This move follows extensive feedback on a discussion paper concerning UCB licensing.

(Economic Times)

Government Notifies Inventory-based Cross-border E-Commerce Export Framework under Foreign Trade Policy 2023: The Government of India has operationalised the Inventory-based Cross-border E-Commerce Export Framework under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023. The framework provides a comprehensive policy and procedural architecture for facilitating inventory-based cross-border e-commerce exports of goods manufactured or produced in India. Under the framework, eligible e-commerce entities may undertake export-only inventory operations through a registered Exporter-on-Record (EOR). The EOR procures goods from Indian Sellers-on-Record (SORs) against confirmed overseas orders, undertakes exports in its own name, and assumes responsibility for export operations as well as compliance with destination-country requirements.

(PiB)


BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM

§ A bug bounty program is a structured, incentivized initiative where organizations invite independent security researchers (ethical hackers) to identify and responsibly disclose vulnerabilities in their systems, apps, or software in exchange for monetary rewards or recognition.

§ These programs help improve security posture by crowdsourcing testing, with payouts for critical bugs ranging from thousands to over $100,000, commonly managed through platforms like HackerOne or Bugcrowd.

§ The purpose is to find vulnerabilities, such as code injection or remote code execution, before they are exploited by malicious actors.


RBI KEY RATES

Repo Rate: 5.25%

SDF: 5.00%

MSF /Bank Rate: 5.50%

CRR: 3.00%

SLR: 18.00%

FOREX RATES (RBI REF. RATE)

INR / 1 USD : 95.1237

INR / 1 GBP : 127.9912

INR / 1 EUR : 109.7242

INR /100 JPY: 60.3100

EQUITY INDEX

Sensex: 78581.00 (+152.05)

NIFTY: 24624.65 (+9.75)

Bnk NIFTY: 57739.95 (-167.25)


Hiroshima Day: August 6 is widely recognized internationally as Hiroshima Day to mark the 1945 atomic bombing and promote peace, and it also marks Independence Day in Jamaica as well as fun informal observances like National Root Beer Float Day.

Historical events: , Bolivia's 1825 independence from Spain, and Jamaica's 1962 liberation, while Indian history on this date recalls the 1862 establishment of the Madras High Court and the 1986 birth of India's first test-tube baby.

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