Why I was glued to the screen for RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s April 2026 rate announcement
Honestly, I never thought a repo‑rate update could feel as exciting as a cricket final, but on the morning of April 8 I found myself with a cup of chai, my phone on speaker, and a live‑stream link from the Reserve Bank of India website. The reason? RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra was about to unveil the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision after a three‑day deliberation that started on April 6. In most cases, I just skim the headlines, but this time the stakes felt personal – my home loan EMI and the interest on my small savings account both hinge on whether the repo rate stays at 5.25 % or moves.
Besides the personal finance angle, the broader economic backdrop made me pay extra attention. Inflation has been flirting with the upper band of the target range, and the ongoing Iran‑US conflict has the potential to create supply‑chain hiccups and push energy costs higher. All these factors made the RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s commentary feel like a weather forecast for India’s economy – useful to carry an umbrella or not.
Setting the stage: What the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has done so far
Before I dived into the live broadcast, I brushed up on the numbers. Since February 2025, the Reserve Bank of India has already trimmed the repo rate by a total of 125 basis points, bringing it down to the current 5.25 per cent. That cumulative cut was meant to support growth after a slowdown in the previous year. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) – the seven‑member panel that decides the rate – has been walking a tightrope between keeping inflation in check and not starving the economy of credit.
Analysts, especially those I follow on Twitter, were all saying the same thing: “Expect a hold.” The consensus was that the Reserve Bank of India would likely keep the repo rate steady at 5.25 per cent, while closely watching inflation data and the fallout from geopolitical tensions. The market’s forward guidance was essentially a “wait and see” approach.
When and where to catch RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s speech
Here’s the practical bit – the exact timing and the platforms you can use. The official announcement by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra was scheduled for 10 am on April 8. Right after the rate decision, there would be a post‑policy press conference at 12 noon where RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra would answer questions from journalists and explain the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)’s reasoning.
If you’re like me, you probably have a smartphone, a laptop, or maybe a smart TV. The Reserve Bank of India streams the live address on its official website, and you can also find the feed on popular news portals like CNBC‑TV18, ET Now, and the government’s own YouTube channel. I personally bookmarked the Reserve Bank of India live‑stream page and added a reminder on my phone, just in case I got distracted with a work call.
Below are the main ways to watch:
- Reserve Bank of India official website – live video and live‑text commentary.
- Major Indian TV news channels – they usually split the screen between the live feed and a scrolling ticker of market reactions.
- Social media – Twitter handles of the Reserve Bank of India and RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra often post short video clips and key bullet points in real time.
In my household, the TV was tuned to the news channel, but I also kept the phone on speaker so I could capture any quick market updates that the financial news ticker displayed.
What I heard from RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra at 10 am
At exactly 10 am, the live feed switched to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra standing behind a podium, flanked by a few senior officials. The background screen showed the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) logo and the phrase “Repo Rate Decision – April 2026.” RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra began with a courteous Greeting and then got straight to the point: “The Reserve Bank of India decides to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent.”
He then walked us through three main points that mattered to me and the rest of the country:
- Inflation outlook – The Reserve Bank of India sees headline inflation staying within the 4‑6 percent band, but there are upside risks from food prices and global oil shocks.
- Liquidity conditions – The Reserve Bank of India will continue the open market operations that were started after the February 2025 cut to ensure enough credit flow to the real economy.
- Global developments – RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra highlighted the Iran‑US conflict, noting that any escalation could affect import‑dependent sectors and push up energy costs.
What really caught my attention was the phrase “the Reserve Bank of India remains vigilant.” That sounded like a gentle reminder that the next meeting could bring a change if inflation starts creeping upward.
Post‑policy press conference at 12 noon – the deep dive
After the initial announcement, there was a short break and then RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra came back for a Q&A session at 12 noon. I switched to the news channel’s split‑screen mode so I could see both the live question and the ticker showing the rupee’s movement. The rupee was hovering around 82.50 per US dollar, barely moving after the decision.
Journalists asked RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra about a few hot topics:
- Food price volatility: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the Reserve Bank of India will monitor food price trends closely and may consider targeted measures if they start feeding into core inflation.
- Credit growth: He reassured that the Reserve Bank of India is comfortable with the current pace of credit expansion, especially in the housing and auto sectors, which are crucial for middle‑class consumers.
- Geopolitical risk: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra reiterated that the Iran‑US conflict could affect oil imports, but the Reserve Bank of India has sufficient foreign exchange buffers to handle short‑term shocks.
Listening to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, I could sense a calm confidence – almost like a senior doctor explaining a treatment plan. He emphasized that the Reserve Bank of India’s primary goal remains price stability, and that any future rate move would be data‑driven.
How the market reacted – a quick street‑level view
When the announcement was over, I checked the stock market on my phone. The Nifty 50 was up about 0.3 per cent, while the BSE Sensex showed a modest gain of roughly 0.2 per cent. Traders on the floor of the NSE were saying, “No surprise – the Reserve Bank of India kept rates steady, so the markets can breathe a little.”
In the nearby tea stall, my friend who works as a sales executive was debating whether to take a personal loan for a new bike. He said, “If the Reserve Bank of India doesn’t raise rates now, my loan EMI will stay the same. But I won’t count on another cut – the 125‑basis‑point reduction since February 2025 feels like the last big dip.”
Even the rupee, which had been a bit jittery the previous week, seemed to settle. The live ticker on the news channel showed the rupee at 82.47 against the US dollar, a tiny improvement from the earlier 82.55.
Personal takeaways – what it means for me and for ordinary Indians
Now that the dust has settled, I tried to summarise what RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s decision means for someone like me:
- Home loan EMI: With the repo rate staying at 5.25 per cent, banks are likely to keep their home loan interest slabs unchanged for the next few months. That means my upcoming EMI won’t jump, which is a relief.
- Savings account interest: The Reserve Bank of India’s steady rate also means banks can keep offering the same modest interest on savings accounts – maybe around 3 to 3.5 per cent.
- Credit card rates: Credit card APRs generally track the repo rate with a margin, so I don’t expect a sudden hike either.
- Inflation watch: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra warned about food‑price volatility. That’s a reminder to keep an eye on vegetable prices at the local market – a spike there can feed into overall inflation.
From a broader perspective, the decision signals that the Reserve Bank of India is comfortable with the current monetary stance but is ready to act if inflation or external shocks worsen. It’s a balanced approach – not overly hawkish, not overly dovish.
Looking ahead – what the next MPC meeting could hold
Based on RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s comments, the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting is likely to be in June. If the Iran‑US conflict escalates or if food prices surge, the Reserve Bank of India may consider another tweak – possibly a small increase to curb inflation. On the other hand, if growth slows down further, the Reserve Bank of India could think about another modest cut, though the earlier 125‑basis‑point reduction since February 2025 suggests the policy space is narrowing.
For ordinary citizens, the key is to stay informed. I plan to set a reminder for the next RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra address and maybe even follow the live blog on the Reserve Bank of India website. Knowing the direction of interest rates helps in planning big purchases, loan refinancing, or even deciding whether to park money in fixed deposits.
Final thoughts – a personal note on watching policy live
Honestly, watching RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra speak live felt like being part of a national conversation. It reminded me that monetary policy isn’t just something that happens behind closed doors – it directly touches people’s pockets, from the farmer buying seeds to the IT professional repaying a home loan.
If you haven’t tried watching the Reserve Bank of India’s live announcements before, I’d say give it a shot. Grab a cup of chai, find a quiet corner, and listen to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra explain the numbers. You’ll understand a little more about why the rupee moves, why your loan interest stays the same, and how global events like the Iran‑US conflict can spill over into the price of a packet of wheat flour.
Until the next MPC meeting, I’ll keep an eye on inflation trends, oil prices, and of course RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s next speech. Stay tuned, stay curious, and maybe set a reminder for the next live broadcast – you never know, the next rate decision could change your financial plans.







