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6th May 2024 (18 Topics)

Decline in RBI's Surplus Transfer to the Government

Context

The Reserve Bank may give the government a smaller dividend for FY 2023–2024 than the massive Rs 87416 crore paid out the year before. This decline in surplus transfer warrants a closer examination of the underlying causes and its implications for both monetary and fiscal policy.

1: Dimension- Reason behind decline in Income
  • Lower commission income from forex sales: The central bank sold fewer dollars in comparison to the preceding year.
    • Factor responsible: This decline in forex transactions can be attributed to various factors, including changes in global economic conditions, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and shifts in trade dynamics.
  • Accelerated growth of RBI's balance sheet during the fiscal year. This expansion necessitated higher provisioning, thereby reducing the available surplus for transfer to the government.
  • Factor responsible: The expansion of RBI's balance sheet could be attributed to several factors, including monetary policy interventions aimed at stabilizing financial markets, liquidity management measures, and responses to economic shocks.
2: Dimension- Implications of the reduced surplus transfer
  • Impact on Planning: From a fiscal perspective, it may pose challenges for the government's budgetary planning and expenditure allocation.
  • Impact on public spending: It could necessitate adjustments in fiscal policies, potentially impacting public spending on critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
  • More debt: A lower surplus transfer may exert upward pressure on the government's fiscal deficit, thereby influencing debt dynamics and borrowing costs.

The reduced surplus transfer underscores the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between financial stability objectives and fiscal considerations. While the RBI plays a crucial role in supporting economic recovery and maintaining price stability, the constraints on surplus transferability highlight the need for prudent financial management and policy coordination.

Fact Box:

RBI’s Surplus Transfer

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) transfers its surplus to the government annually.
  • The RBI's surplus is typically transferred to the government after necessary deductions are made for various reserves, including the Contingency Fund and Asset Development Fund.
  • This surplus is generated from its earnings minus expenditures.
    • Surplus distribution policy: The Jalan Committee recommended a surplus distribution policy that follows the realised equity maintained by the RBI. It gave a range of 5.5-6.5% of RBI's balance sheet for Contingent Risk Buffer.
  • The surplus is transferred to the government, in accordance with Section 47 (Allocation of Surplus Profits) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
  • As the RBI is owned by the government, any surplus it generates belongs to the government.

RBI’s Earnings

RBI’s Expenditure

  • Open market operations
  • Interest received from (bonds, treasury bills, top-rated securities, and deposits)
  • Interest on its holdings of local rupee-denominated government bonds
  • Interests on lending to banks (overnight).
  • Dealings in the foreign exchange market
  • Printing of currency notes
  • Staff
  • To banks for undertaking transactions on behalf of the government across the country
  • To primary dealers, including banks, for underwriting some of these borrowings.

RBI’s Funds

RBI has 3 different funds that together comprise its reserves:

  • Currency and Gold Revaluation Account (CGRA) (largest and significant bulk)
  • Contingency Fund (CF)
  • Asset Development Fund (ADF)
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