Reserve Bank of India – Bulletin Weekly Statistical Supplement – Extract
Distilled Policy Brief
- RBI's total foreign exchange reserves rose to ₹6.84 trillion (≈$716.9 bn) as of 14 Aug 2026, with foreign currency assets up by ₹55.5 trillion and gold holdings increasing by ₹1.06 trillion.
- Money supply (M3) reached ₹31.45 trillion, showing a 2.0% weekly rise and a 14.7% year‑to‑date increase, while bank credit to the commercial sector grew 1.5% weekly and 18.8% YTD.
- Liquidity operations in early August 2026 resulted in a net absorption of ₹229 billion through the Standing Deposit Facility and Marginal Standing Facility, indicating a tightening of liquidity.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Total foreign exchange reserves as of 14 Aug 2026 stood at ₹6.84 trillion ($716.9 bn).
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
The rise in reserves and M3 alongside RBI’s net liquidity absorption points to a tightening monetary stance, with implications for inflation control and credit growth.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
Which of the following correctly states the weekly growth rate of bank credit to the commercial sector as reported in the RBI's Weekly Statistical Supplement for early August 2026?
- [A] 1.5% weekly
- [B] 2.0% weekly
- [C] 2.5% weekly
- [D] 3.0% weekly
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
The RBI bulletin states that bank credit to the commercial sector grew 1.5% in the week ending 14 Aug 2026. The other figures are not mentioned in the supplement.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.