- The Reserve Bank of India has approved a record surplus transfer of ₹2.86 lakh crore to the Central Government for the financial year 2025–26. This is among the highest dividend payouts ever made by the central bank.
- The decision was taken during the 623rd meeting of the Central Board of Directors held in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Sanjay Malhotra.
RBI’s Income and Balance Sheet Grow Strongly
According to the RBI, its financial performance improved significantly during FY26:
- Gross income increased by 26.42% compared to the previous financial year.
- Expenditure before risk provisions rose by 27.60%.
- Net income before risk provisions and transfer to statutory funds stood at ₹3.95 lakh crore, up from ₹3.13 lakh crore in FY25.
The RBI also reported a major expansion in its balance sheet:
- Total balance sheet size increased by 20.61%
- Reached ₹91.97 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026
Contingent Risk Buffer Maintained at 6.5%
- The central bank also approved the transfer of ₹1.09 lakh crore to the Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB) for FY26.
- The CRB has been maintained at 6.5% of the RBI’s balance sheet, in line with the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECF). The buffer acts as a financial safeguard against unforeseen economic and financial risks.
Board Reviews Economic Outlook
During the meeting, the RBI Board reviewed:
- Global and domestic economic conditions
- Risks to economic growth and inflation outlook
- The RBI’s annual accounts for FY26
The strong surplus transfer is expected to provide additional fiscal support to the Central Government by helping manage expenditure and fiscal deficit targets.