Economists urge RBI to cut interest rates as global markets decline ahead of April 9 policy decision
New Delhi: With global markets witnessing a sharp downturn, several economists have called on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to consider cutting interest rates in its upcoming monetary policy meeting scheduled for April 9.
In an interaction with ANI, experts highlighted that current global and domestic economic trends present an opportune moment for the central bank to take bold measures to support growth.
Debopam Chaudhuri, Chief Economist at Piramal Group, suggested that the RBI should front-load rate cuts. “A 50-basis-point cut in April can be a good pre-emptive move. Domestic inflation is low, global yields are declining, and the rupee has regained some ground against the dollar. These trends offer a strong case for aggressive rate cuts,” he said.
However, not all economists are in favour of such a sharp cut. Sonal Badhan, Economics Specialist at Bank of Baroda, advocated a more cautious approach. “We expect a 25-basis-point rate cut, as the RBI will wait for greater clarity on the monsoon. That said, the policy stance is likely to shift to ‘accommodative’, which could pave the way for additional cuts based on macroeconomic developments,” she noted.
Globally, central banks are facing increasing pressure due to economic uncertainties, intensified by recent tariff announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump. These protectionist moves have raised concerns about their impact on global trade and inflation control.
The RBI’s monetary policy committee began its meeting on Monday in Mumbai. The final decision on policy rates will be announced on April 9.
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Udupi district set to be declared ‘fully literate’
Udupi: Udupi district is all set to be declared a “fully literate” district, marking a major milestone in its adult education drive launched last year, The New Indian Express reported.
According to officials from the Adult Education Office, declarations confirming near-total literacy have already been received from Kapu, Karkala, Hebri, Brahmavara, and Byndoor taluks. Udupi and Kundapur taluks are expected to submit their declarations shortly. Once these are received, the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) will declare Udupi a fully literate district.
As per Central government norms, a region is considered fully literate when it achieves a literacy rate of 95% or above, which is treated as equivalent to 100% literacy.
Udupi district has a total of 158 gram panchayats, all of which have submitted reports indicating near-total literacy. The final step involves consolidation of declarations by taluk panchayat executive officers (EO) and submission to the ZP Chief Executive Officer for official approval.
The achievement follows a focused initiative in which 1,246 illiterate adults were identified and enrolled in special four-month literacy courses. Conducted by the Adult Education Office, the programme used tailored learning materials to impart basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills, with participants assessed at the end of the course.
Officials said the initiative primarily benefited adults and elderly individuals who had missed formal education earlier, helping bridge literacy gaps and improve civic participation at the grassroots level.
District Adult Education Officer Yoganarasimha Swamy K M said specially designed textbooks, ‘Balige Belaku’ and ‘Savi Baraha’, which were specially designed for educating adults, were used to ensure the district becomes fully literate.
Officials said that about eight months ago, 45 out of 158 gram panchayats were yet to achieve full literacy, making the current progress a significant accomplishment.
