RBI is more than autonomous, RBI hikes loan cap to `40 cr for small exporters but govt is the sovereign: Das

MUMBAI: Asserting that the Reserve Bank is more than autonomous, governor Shaktikanta Das Friday said though the central bank engages with the government in free and frank discussions, there is no interference from it when it comes to taking decisions.

Das said the differences of opinion between the government and the monetary authority happens in all the countries as the perspectives are different, but it is essential to discuss, talk and resolve the differences.

"Let me tell you, there is lot of interaction between the RBI and the government. But, so far as decision-making is concerned or taking a final call on any issue is concerned, I can tell you, with all my confidence, that they are taken by the RBI and the RBI is more than 100 percent autonomous in decision-making. Nobody interferes in my decision-making," Das told an event organised by the media house India Today group.

He said there has to be exchanges of ideas and explaining one's position to the other is necessary as it creates a harmonious and healthy relationship.

The conversations with the government cannot be stopped because the government is the sovereign and the RBI is part of the sovereign, he underlined.

"The RBI is not a cheerleader for anyone but people who say the central bank should not be a cheerleader for the government, I have one question: 'Do you expect the central bank to go on lecturing and abusing the government on the economy?'" Das wondered aloud.

There will be differences of opinions, there is a difference of opinion between the RBI and the government on several issues but we do talk and these discussions are internally, he explained.

"If at the drop of a hat, I rush to the media and make a statement expressing my differences with the government, then what it is going to achieve," Das asked and said it is desirable that such expression of dissent is done internally.

"In fact, let me may tell you when you have such discussions, the central bank carries greater weight in getting things which it wants to get done," the governor said.

It can be recalled that during the tenors of the past two governors--raghuram Rajan and Urjit Patel--the differences between the government and the Mint Road began to spill onto the public domain. This had both of them leaving and also the deputy governor Viral Acharya. MUMBAI: Aiming to boost credit supply to small exporters, the Reserve Bank Friday enhanced the loan sanctions limit qualifying as priority sector lending by banks to Rs 40 crore per borrower. The limit was capped at Rs 25 crore per borrower earlier, according to a notification. It can be noted that the RBI and the government have been taking a slew of measures to spur economic growth, which has dipped to a six-year low by taking slew of measures. The RBI has also decided to remove the existing criteria of 'units having turnover of up to Rs 100 crore' as part of the changes. The changes have been done "to boost credit to the export sector", the central bank said in the notification.

Priority sector lending is a mandatory requirement under which lenders are required to devote a portion of their advances to empower focused groups of the economy. All sectors put together, this adds up to 42 percent of the total lending for each bank. Existing guidelines for domestic scheduled commercial banks to classify 'incremental export credit over corresponding date of the preceding year, upto 2 percent of adjusted net bank credit or credit equivalent amount of offbalance sheet exposure, whichever is higher' under PSL will continue to be applicable, the RBI said.