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Updated 2h agoBusiness & Markets

RBI has record forex reserves, but why is rupee still not out of the woods?

Headline by Prism · from 1 report

The Indian rupee remains under pressure despite India reaching record-high foreign exchange reserves of $785.71 billion.

1 outlet · 1 report · EnglishOne source so far

The record

Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.

  • India's foreign exchange reserves have hit a record high following inflows from the Reserve Bank of India's special dollar swap scheme.
  • However, these reserves are largely parked in NRI deposits rather than traded in the open market, failing to significantly boost the rupee.
  • The currency continues to face downward pressure due to a widening trade deficit, rising crude oil prices, and consistent outflows by foreign institutional investors.
  • Experts note that while reserves provide a critical buffer against volatility, they are not a tool to override fundamental market forces like US interest rates and global trade imbalances.

What to watch next

  • Impact of potential US tariff hikes on Russian crude imports
  • Future fluctuations in global crude oil prices
  • The Reserve Bank of India's intervention strategy in the currency market

Who said what2

Only words found exactly in the article are shown, attributed and linked to the line they came from.

Divya Mandaliya

1 quote · 1 outlet

  • So the reserve number swells, but that cash never becomes a real dollar supply that could push the rupee up,
    [1]The Times of India8h agoOpen at the quote ↗
    In the article

    and Stock Brokers explains that most of the jump in forex reserves came from the RBI's special NRI deposit scheme (FCNR-B), where banks swap dollars directly with the RBI instead of selling them in the open market. “ So the reserve number swells, but that cash never becomes a real dollar supply that could push the rupee up, ” she tells TOI. Back in March 2026, the RBI sold dollars hard to defend the rupee during the Middle East-driven oil shock. Forex reserves dropped by more than $100 billion in just weeks, sliding to $666.9 billion by

Ranen Banerjee

Partner and Leader, Economic Advisory, PwC India

1 quote · 1 outlet

  • They should be used judiciously to contain speculation and that has been the stand of the RBI.
    [1]The Times of India8h agoOpen at the quote ↗
    In the article

    volatility and ensure orderly market functioning rather than resist every market-driven movement in the exchange rate. Ramen Banerjee is of the view that forex reserves should never be used to defend the currency. “ They should be used judiciously to contain speculation and that has been the stand of the RBI. The reserves provide a cushion for exigencies and also provides confidence to investors and exporters to India on the macro fiscal stability of the country,” he says. Experts are clear that India’s stock of foreign

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All filed from India

Named India · United States · Russia · China · Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers · Divya Mandaliya · DK Srivastava · EY India · PwC India · Ranen Banerjee · Reserve Bank of India · US Federal Reserve

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RBI has record forex reserves, but why is rupee still not out of the woods? | Prism