RBI data shows steady forex reserves and broad stability in banking aggregates
The RBI’s latest Weekly Statistical Supplement indicates broadly stable financial conditions, with India’s foreign exchange reserves holding at US$ 682,354 million as on 24 July 2026 and scheduled commercial banks showing manageable fortnightly movements in deposits and credit.
India’s macro-financial dashboard received a fresh update with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releasing an extract of its *Bulletin Weekly Statistical Supplement*. The numbers—provisional and subject to rounding—offer a snapshot of the RBI balance sheet, foreign exchange reserves, and key banking aggregates for mid-to-late July 2026.
Overall, the latest reading suggests continuity and resilience: reserves remain sizeable, and banking system aggregates show normal fortnightly fluctuations that are typical for a large, dynamic economy.
Foreign exchange reserves: a steady buffer
As on **24 July 2026**, India’s **total foreign exchange reserves** stood at **₹ 65,87,915 crore** (or **US$ 682,354 million**), as per RBI data.
On a week-on-week basis, total reserves recorded a **variation of ₹ 76,752 crore** (or **US$ 6,118 million**). Within the overall reserves basket:
- **Foreign Currency Assets (FCA)** were reported at **₹ 53,67,324 crore** (or **US$ 555,929 million**) with a **weekly variation of ₹ 61,494 crore** (or **US$ 4,873 million**). The RBI notes that FCA excludes certain components such as SDR holdings (reported separately), select investments, and amounts lent under specific swap arrangements.
- **Gold** holdings were placed at **₹ 9,94,988 crore** (or **US$ 103,058 million**) with a **weekly variation of ₹ 15,299 crore** (or **US$ 1,308 million**).
- **SDRs** (Special Drawing Rights) stood at **₹ 1,79,746 crore** (or **US$ 18,617 million**).
- **Reserve position in the IMF** was **₹ 45,857 crore** (or **US$ 4,750 million**).
The RBI’s data also provides reference points versus **end-March 2026** and **year-ago** levels, underlining how the composition of reserves can shift across instruments even when the headline number remains a strong macroeconomic cushion.
RBI balance sheet: loans and advances to states in focus
From the RBI’s *Liabilities and Assets* table, the extract highlights **Loans and Advances** under two government-related sub-items.
- **Central Government**: shown as **0** across the reported dates.
- **State Governments**: recorded at **₹ 20,629 crore** as on **17 July 2026**, and **₹ 24,197 crore** as on **24 July 2026**, indicating a **week-on-week variation of ₹ 3,568 crore**. The table also shows a **year-on-year variation of ₹ 171 crore** for this line item.
Such movements can reflect timing of government cash flows and temporary liquidity needs, and they are best read as part of routine public finance operations rather than standalone signals.
Banking aggregates: deposits and credit show normal fortnightly movement
The supplement also reports *Scheduled Commercial Banks – Business in India* (₹ crore), with **outstanding as on 15 July 2026** and variations over the **fortnight**, **financial year so far**, and **year-on-year**.
Key highlights include:
- **Aggregate deposits** stood at **₹ 2,62,84,574 crore**, with a **fortnightly variation of -₹ 2,59,710 crore**. The table lists deposit growth at **-1.0%** over the fortnight, **3.3%** for the financial year so far, and **10.1%** year-on-year.
- Within deposits, **demand deposits** were **₹ 31,91,601 crore** (fortnightly change **-₹ 3,47,705 crore**) while **time deposits** were **₹ 2,30,92,973 crore** (fortnightly change **₹ 87,995 crore**), reflecting the typical rebalancing between current/savings-style balances and term deposits.
- **Bank credit** was **₹ 2,17,33,383 crore**, with a **fortnightly variation of -₹ 1,97,015 crore**. Credit growth is shown at **-0.9%** over the fortnight, **1.2%** for the financial year so far, and **9.9%** year-on-year.
Taken together, these readings point to a banking system operating with breadth and depth—supporting credit intermediation while absorbing routine shifts in deposit mix.
**Why it matters:** Consistent, high-frequency RBI statistics help households, businesses, and policymakers track liquidity, savings behaviour, and credit conditions—strengthening confidence in India’s financial stability and enabling better, timely economic decisions.
