Current Repo & Reverse Repo Rate 2025: Meaning, Impact & History

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on December 5, 2025, marking the second consecutive reduction to boost economic growth amid easing inflation and global uncertainties and kept reverse repo rate unchanged at 3.35%. 

In this article, let’s check the recent inflation rate, GDP projection, impact, and the history of the repo rate.

Key Highlights

• As per the RBI MPC (Dec 2025) meeting, the repo rate was reduced to 5.25% by 25 bps.
• RBI retained its GDP growth forecast at 7.3% for the current year.
• Inflation projection for FY26 lowered to 2%.
• Reverse repo rate remains at 3.35%. 

What is Repo Rate?

The repo rate is the interest rate at which commercial banks borrow money from the RBI by pledging government securities as collateral. It directly influences lending rates, EMIs, and overall credit availability in the economy.

A lower repo rate makes borrowing cheaper for banks, encouraging lending and spending. A higher repo rate does the opposite by tightening liquidity.

What is BPS or Basis Point?

Basis points, also referred to as “bps” are a unit of measurement used in finance to express the rate of change in an index or other benchmark or the percentage change in the value of financial instruments. In decimal notation, one basis point is equal to 0.0001 or 0.01% (1/100th of a percent).

Current RBI Policy Rates 

Refer to the following table for the current rates:

How does Repo Rate Work?

When you borrow money from the bank, the transaction attracts interest on the principal amount. This is referred to as the cost of credit. Similarly, banks also borrow money from RBI during a cash crunch on which they are required to pay interest to the Central Bank. This interest rate is called the repo rate.

Technically, repo stands for ‘Repurchasing Option’ or ‘Repurchase Agreement’. It is an agreement in which banks provide eligible securities such as Treasury Bills to the RBI while availing overnight loans. An agreement to repurchase them at a predetermined price will also be in place. Thus, the bank gets the cash and the central bank the security.

What is Reverse Repo Rate?

Reverse repo rate is the interest rate at which the RBI borrows short-term funds from commercial banks, helping it manage liquidity when required. Banks prefer parking surplus money with the RBI because it’s secure and also earns them interest, allowing them to make returns on idle funds.

RBI Repo Rate History 2015 to 2025

The following table shows the most recent repo rates maintained by the Reserve Bank of India:

Impact of Repo Rate Changes

Changes in the repo rate affect loans, deposits, markets, and economic growth by altering liquidity and borrowing costs.

How does Repo Rate Affect Home Loan?

Buyers who take out a house loan tied to repo rates or those who move from their existing home loans to it need to understand certain details about these loans. Transmissions are faster. 

Any adjustments to the repo rate will likely be reflected in your EMI outlay considerably more quickly. This also implies that your house loan EMI would rise if the banking authority modifies its benchmark lending rate.

Additionally, banks will finally decide how much extra interest they will add to the repo rate on mortgages. With the latest repo rate cut in 2025 to 5.25%, interest rates and Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) on home, vehicle, and personal loans will decrease, thereby making it easy for borrowers to repay their debts.

How does Repo Rate Affect Fixed Deposits (FDs)?

The repo rate increase may be highly beneficial for investors looking for fixed deposits with low risk and competitive rates. FDs are expected to appreciate in value as investments. Changes to the RBI’s policy repo rate will impact bank lending and deposit rates. The various banks and NBFCS will make the decisions on the actual rate adjustments.

How does Repo Rate Affect the Stock Market?

Interest rates and the stock market are inversely related. Every time the Central Bank raises the repo rate, the stock markets are immediately affected.

This means that the increase in the repo rate causes businesses to reduce their expenditure on expansion, which slows down growth, has an impact on profits and future cash flows, and causes stock prices to drop.

How does Repo Rate Affect the Economy?

Repo rate is a powerful arm of the Indian monetary policy that can regulate the country’s money supply, inflation levels, and liquidity. Additionally, the levels of repo have a direct impact on the cost of borrowing for banks. Higher the repo rate, higher will be the cost of borrowing for banks and vice-versa.

I. Rise in inflation

During high levels of inflation, RBI makes strong attempts to bring down the flow of money in the economy. One way to do this is by increasing the repo rate. This makes borrowing a costly affair for businesses and industries, which in turn slows down investment and money supply in the market. 

As a result, it negatively impacts the growth of the economy, which helps in controlling inflation.

II. Increasing Liquidity in the Market

On the other hand, when the RBI needs to pump funds into the system, it lowers the repo rate. Consequently, businesses and industries find it cheaper to borrow money for different investment purposes. 

When the repo rate is decreased, banks tend to lend more making credit more accessible for businesses. It also increases the overall supply of money in the economy. This ultimately boosts the growth rate of the economy.

What are the Components of a Repo Transaction?

Below are the parameters on the basis of which the RBI agrees to execute the transaction with the banks:

• Preventing Economy “squeezes” – The Central bank increases or decreases the Repo rate depending on the inflation. Thus, it aims at controlling the economy by keeping inflation in the limit.
• Hedging & Leveraging – RBI aims to hedge and leverage by buying securities and bonds from the banks and provide cash to them in return for the collateral deposited.
• Short-Term Borrowing – RBI lends money for a short period of time, maximum being an overnight post which the banks buy back their securities deposited at a predetermined price.
• Collaterals & Securities – RBI accepts collateral in the form of gold, bonds, etc.
• Cash Reserve (or) Liquidity – Banks borrow money from RBI to maintain liquidity or cash reserve as a precautionary measure.

Repo vs Other RBI Rates

The repo rate is a key monetary policy tool used by the RBI to manage inflation, liquidity, and economic growth. Changes in the repo rate influence loan EMIs, deposit returns, market sentiment, and overall credit flow. Understanding repo rate movements helps borrowers, savers, and investors make informed financial decisions.