The Reserve Bank of India is ready to inject additional cash through Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) operations if need arises, Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Wednesday.
“The RBI remains nimble and flexible in its liquidity management operations. So, even though the RBI is in absorption mode, we are ready to conduct LAF operation that injects liquidity as may be needed,” Mr. Das said, while announcing the central bank’s monetary policy decision to raise key lending rate by 35 basis points (bps).
“We will look for a durable sign of a turn in the liquidity cycle. Market participants must wean themselves away from overhang of liquidity surpluses,” he added.
India’s banking system liquidity has slipped into deficit in October, but improved in recent weeks amid heavy government spending, traders have said.
Daily banking system liquidity surplus has averaged ₹1.59 trillion ($19.28 billion) so far in December, up from around ₹500 billion in November.
Mr. Das further said, overall monetary and liquidity conditions remain “accommodative,” with liquidity conditions set to improve further.
Tax outflows and currency demand produce “transient episodes” of tight liquidity, he added.
The central bank will also extend the enhanced limit to hold more government bonds under held-to-maturity category by another year up to March 31, 2024.
It had previously planned to bring down holding in phases, from April-June 2023.
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