New Delhi: Maintaining its softer interest rate bias, Reserve Bank on July 29 said
the economy was expected to grow by 6-6.5 per cent this fiscal despite drought
situation in some parts of the country.
"On the limited liquidity or monetary point of view, I don't see any problem as of
now," RBI Governor Bimal Jalan told reporters, while asserting that the Apex Bank
continues
to maintain the growth projection at 6-6.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product
(GDP).
"On the liquidity side, the monetary side and Forex exchange side, we don't see any
problem in handling whatever is the requirement," Jalan, who met Finance Minister
Jaswant Singh in New Delhi, said.
Asked about any revision in the RBI-benchmark Bank Rate in view of the drought
situation in some parts of India, he said "There is no relationship between the two
(revision of bank rate and drought) as long as liquidity situation is good."
Jalan said that RBI maintained its bias towards softer interest rates and it would
continue as of now.
RBI, in its April Credit Policy, had announced that Bank Rate would be reduced by 0.5
per cent from the present level of 6.5 per cent.
Jalan, however, was noncommittal on the timing of the rate cut.
He also said, "There was no problem with inflation rate as of now."
The inflation rate based on Wholesale Price Index increased by 0.49 per cent to 2.48
per cent during the week ended July 13.
PTI