The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Sanjay Malhotra is scheduled to announce the latest repo rate decision today, April 8, 2026 after a three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting was held. This sets the stage for its first major policy decision of the financial year 2026–27.
ALSO READ: RBI MPC Policy Meeting 2026 Live
The policy decision comes at a critical juncture, as rising inflationary pressures and the ongoing Iran–US conflict threaten India’s economic growth through potential supply chain disruptions and higher energy costs. The current repo rate stands at 5.25 per cent. It was last changed in December 2025, when the central bank had cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent.
Following the policy announcement, Sanjay Malhotra will address a post-policy press conference at 12 noon today. Ahead of the RBI MPC announcement, economists have opined that the central bank is most likely to maintain the 'status quo' on repo rates, reports news agency ANI. There would, however, be several policy decisions that will be announced, addressing key macro issues, they said.
Speaking exclusively to ANI, Dipti Deshpande, Principal Economist at Crisil, said the apex bank is primarily going to pursue a 'wait and watch' kind of approach. "It's also going to be cautious," she said. On the issue of policy announcements, she added, "It will be dependent on what the inflammatory kind of pressures in their forecast, the comfort of 2.6 per cent."
Rajani Sinha, Chief Economist, CareEdge Ratings, told ANI, "We expect RBI to maintain 'status quo' on the policy rates and stance in its upcoming meeting in April. Given the volatile nature of the global environment, we expect the RBI to adopt a 'wait and watch' strategy, which will enable RBI to preserve flexibility to gauge emerging risks to growth and take a calibrated call on the future rate reactions."
ALSO READ: RBI MPC Policy Meeting 2026 Live
The policy decision comes at a critical juncture, as rising inflationary pressures and the ongoing Iran–US conflict threaten India’s economic growth through potential supply chain disruptions and higher energy costs. The current repo rate stands at 5.25 per cent. It was last changed in December 2025, when the central bank had cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent.
RBI MPC Meeting time
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra will announce the policy decision at 10 AM today, on the final day of the MPC meeting. The April MPC meeting spans from April 6 to April 8, 2026. Shortly after, Governor Sanjay Malhotra will address the media during a press conference at noon.Where to watch RBI Policy Live
The RBI MPC 2026 announcement will be streamed live across multiple platforms, including the RBI’s official YouTube channel, its X (formerly Twitter) handle, and the official RBI website. Viewers can also follow real-time updates via the News18 live blog.Following the policy announcement, Sanjay Malhotra will address a post-policy press conference at 12 noon today. Ahead of the RBI MPC announcement, economists have opined that the central bank is most likely to maintain the 'status quo' on repo rates, reports news agency ANI. There would, however, be several policy decisions that will be announced, addressing key macro issues, they said.
Speaking exclusively to ANI, Dipti Deshpande, Principal Economist at Crisil, said the apex bank is primarily going to pursue a 'wait and watch' kind of approach. "It's also going to be cautious," she said. On the issue of policy announcements, she added, "It will be dependent on what the inflammatory kind of pressures in their forecast, the comfort of 2.6 per cent."
Rajani Sinha, Chief Economist, CareEdge Ratings, told ANI, "We expect RBI to maintain 'status quo' on the policy rates and stance in its upcoming meeting in April. Given the volatile nature of the global environment, we expect the RBI to adopt a 'wait and watch' strategy, which will enable RBI to preserve flexibility to gauge emerging risks to growth and take a calibrated call on the future rate reactions."
