After 25 Bps Cut, India At 5.25%: How Policy Rates Compare Across BRICS, US And Other Economies

Last Updated:December 06, 2025, 09:34 IST

At 5.25%, India’s policy rate is higher than the US, UK and Eurozone but far below Brazil and Russia, which still run double-digit rates to fight inflation pressures.

India’s Central bank has shifted gears to support the economic momentum and ease lending with a rate cut of 25 basis points in the latest Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting between December 3 to 5. The latest lending benchmark – repo rate – stood at 5.25 per cent after Friday’s 25 bps cut from 5.50 per cent.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, Sanjay Malhotra, in his speech on Friday, termed the current economic situation as ‘rare goldilocks period’, stating that inflation is at a benign 2.2 per cent and growth at 8.0 per cent in H1:2025-26.

The standing deposit facility (SDF) rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) now adjusted to 5.00 per cent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 5.50 per cent. The MPC also decided to continue with the neutral stance.

The repo rate is the interest rate at which banks borrow money from the RBI. When banks face a shortage of cash, they borrow from the RBI by pledging government bonds. The interest the RBI charges on this borrowing is known as the repo rate. If the RBI raises the repo rate, borrowing becomes costlier for banks. If it lowers the rate, banks can access funds more cheaply.

The policy rate is a critical monetary tool utilised by the banks to control money flow into the economy. The Central banks of different countries seek to strike a balance to keep the economic growth momentum and stop inflation from getting out of control.

Comparison of Different Policy Rates As Of Now In Major Economies:

India’s policy rate stood in align with the developed economies such as USA and UK, while a way too below in comparison to BRICS countries. For instance, Brazil and Russia’s policy rates are in the double digit – 15% and 16.50% respectively, due to run away inflation.

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