RBI may end rate-cut cycle with first hike since February 2023

Bankers expect the Reserve Bank of India to raise the repo rate by 25 basis points soon. This marks the end of the rate-cutting phase that began in February 2025. Economists predict inflation will exceed the RBI’s forecasts, necessitating tightening. Experts anticipate resilient growth will provide the RBI room to act despite external pressures. The focus will remain on managing liquidity and aligning rates with policy measures.