RBI To Offer $14 Billion As Dividend To Centre As Covid Hits Federal Government Finances

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The RBI moved Rs 571.3 billion last year, but numbers aren't equivalent due to accounting changesThe central bank authorized paying a
higher-than-expected nearly $14 billion as dividend to the federal government, providing relief to Financing Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at
a time when the pandemic has strained public financial resources
The main board of the Reserve Bank of India authorized moving Rs 991.2 billion ($13.6 billion) to the government on Friday, according to a
statement from the Reserve Bank of India
The RBI pays dividends to the government every year from surplus it generates from market operations, investments and printing of currency
The board in its meeting reviewed the existing financial scenario, worldwide and domestic challenges and current policy procedures taken by
the Reserve Bank to reduce the adverse impact of the 2nd wave of Covid-19 on the economy, the RBI said.The money represents 95 per cent of
the overall Rs 1.04 trillion allocated by the government as dividend income in the that began April 1, and is close to double the amount
expected from the reserve bank
With the pandemic interrupting financial activity and possibly harming tax revenue, the cash will assist Ms Sitharaman keep budget deficit
close to this year's targeted 6.8 percent of gross domestic product.Bonds edged up somewhat
The yield on the standard 10-year financial obligation relieved marginally after the dividend statement and was down 1 basis indicate 5.96
per cent.The RBI moved Rs 571.3 billion in 2015, however the numbers aren't equivalent because of a modification in accounting year
The central bank recently switched to an April-March fiscal year from July-to-June previously, and the payment this time around is for a
nine-month period
This higher payment will offer some cushion to government finances against most likely downturn in tax incomes and privatisation earnings
due to the Covid 2nd wave, stated A
Prasanna, chief financial expert at ICICI Securities Primary Car dealership Ltd.Nirmala Sitharaman still requires to achieve the Rs 1.75
trillion rupee asset-sales target to prevent missing out on the deficit target.The financing minister had previously stated the government
would look beyond financial deficits to revive Asia's third-largest economy, which is presently facing the world's worst Covid-19
outbreak
A spike in virus cases triggered numerous states to impose localized lockdowns, which in turn forced many factories to suspend operations
and worn down incomes in an economy driven by domestic consumption.The federal government has in recent years been pushing the reserve bank
to increase its payments, which resulted in the RBI transferring a record Rs 1.76 trillion 2 years back
The reserve bank is still needed to keep at least 5.5 per cent of its capital as threat buffer.(Other than for the headline, this story has
not been modified by TheIndianSubcontinent personnel and is released from a syndicated feed.)