Mumbai, May 23 (H.S.): The Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a substantial dividend of ₹2.68 lakh crore to the central government for the financial year 2024-25 on Friday, which is 27.4 percent higher than the dividend payment of ₹2.1 lakh crore for the financial year 2023-24. Prior to this, the payment distribution for the financial year 2022-23 was ₹87,416 crore. This will help the Center reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.4 percent in the current financial year 2025-26.

The 616th meeting of the RBI’s Central Board was held today in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Governor Sanjay Malhotra. In this significant decision, the Reserve Bank announced the transfer of ₹2,68,590.07 crore (₹2.69 trillion) as surplus to the central government for the financial year 2024-25. This is the largest transfer by the central bank to date, which could significantly boost the government’s fiscal resources in the current financial year 2025-26.

Additionally, in the 616th meeting of the Central Board, RBI officials reviewed the global and domestic economic outlook, including risks for the future. The dividend payment of 2024-25 is 27.37 percent higher compared to the previous financial year 2023-24. Furthermore, the Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB) has been increased from the previous 6.5 percent to 7.50 percent.

The Central Board meeting included Deputy Governors M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Shankar, Swaminathan J., Dr. Poonam Gupta, and other directors of the Central Board, including Ajay Seth, Secretary of the Economic Affairs Department, Nagaraju Maddirala, Secretary of the Financial Services Department, Satish K. Marathe, Revati Iyer, Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Pankaj Ramanbhai Patel, and Dr. Ravindra H. Dholakia.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar