RBI MPC meeting LIVE updates: Sanjay Malhotra to announce repo rate decision today

RBI MPC meeting 2025 LIVE updates: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will announce its fourth bi-monthly monetary policy decision for FY26 on Wednesday, October 1. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, met from September 29 to October 1, and the outcome on the benchmark repo rate will be declared later in the day.

Economists and market participants broadly expect the central bank to maintain the repo rate at 5.50% and retain its policy stance as ‘neutral’. If the rate remains unchanged, this would mark a second consecutive pause after a cumulative 100 basis point cut earlier this year.

A CNBC-TV18 poll reflects the prevailing sentiment:

• 80% of respondents expect no change in rates


• 20% believe the RBI may opt for a 25-basis-point reduction

Analysts who favour a pause point to the need to assess the impact of recent fiscal steps, including GST rate reductions, and the stability provided by retail inflation staying below the central bank’s 4% medium-term target.

On the duration of the easing cycle, 60% of experts foresee it ending by October 2025, while 20% believe rate adjustments could continue until December 2025.

In the August policy meeting, the MPC had kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.50% after frontloading monetary easing through a rate cut and a 100-basis-point reduction in the cash reserve ratio (CRR). The policy stance was retained as ‘neutral’ at that time as well.

The upcoming announcement will be closely watched for signals on inflation management, liquidity conditions and the trajectory of future rate action.

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