PET 2026 · Economy

How a repo-rate change reaches demand

From the Reserve Bank of India's short-term lending rate to commercial bank credit and inflation

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MINDMAPS FOR UPSCPET 2026 · VISUAL REVISION

How a repo-rate change reaches demand

From the Reserve Bank of India's short-term lending rate to commercial bank credit and inflation

Process flow
Repo Rate & Monetary Transmission
  1. 1 · RBI provides liquidity

    • Repo Rate is the interest rate at which RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against securities.
    • Uses a repurchase agreement over eligible government securities to inject short-term liquidity.
    • By contrast, Reverse Repo / SDF is for absorbing bank funds, and CRR is a mandatory cash reserve share.
  2. 2 · Funding costs respond

    • Raising the repo rate makes short-term central-bank liquidity costlier for commercial banks.
    • Lowering the repo rate reduces banks' marginal borrowing cost and signals an easing policy stance.
    • Policy changes influence money-market rates and banks’ financing conditions.
  3. 3 · Lending rates adjust

    • Commercial banks adjust the interest rates they charge on home, vehicle and corporate loans to the public.
    • Do not confuse Repo Rate (RBI to banks) with retail bank loan rates or government small-savings rates.
    • Transmission speed depends on banking-system liquidity, deposit repricing and credit conditions.
  4. 4 · Credit demand responds

    • Higher borrowing costs can restrain spending and demand-driven inflation, other things equal.
    • Lower borrowing costs can support consumption and investment; the effect is not automatic.
    • Thus the repo rate serves as the Monetary Policy Committee's primary policy rate for inflation targeting.
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25 Oct · Shift 2 · 2026

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