Monetary policy transmission mechanisms have undergone changes over the years to ensure that the benefits of policy changes reach the intended groups and contribute to overall economic development. In 2019, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and several banks took steps to link deposit and lending rates to the Repo rate, a move aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission.

Key Developments:

1. SBI's Initiative:
• In 2019, the State Bank of India (SBI), the largest bank in India, took a significant step by announcing the linkage of interest rates on savings bank accounts and short-term loans to the RBI's Repo rate. This marked a departure from traditional rate-setting mechanisms.
2. Repo-Linked Rates Across Banks:
• Following SBI's initiative, several other banks, including Syndicate Bank, Union Bank, Indian Bank, Bank of India, and Allahabad Bank, announced their plans to introduce Repo-linked interest rates. Each bank may have its own version of such rates.

Rationale for Repo Rate Linkage:

1. Enhanced Monetary Policy Transmission:
• The primary objective of linking deposit and lending rates to the Repo rate is to improve the transmission of monetary policy changes. By directly connecting these rates to the Repo rate set by the RBI, the impact of policy decisions on inflation and liquidity management can be more effectively realized.
2. Limited Dependency on Repo Window:
• Banks source only a small percentage (about 1 per cent) of their funds from the RBI's Repo window. The majority of their funds come from deposits from the public. As a result, changes in the Repo rate are seen as more directly influencing the cost of funds for banks.
3. Public Deposits as a Dominant Source:
• Recognizing that public deposits form a significant portion of banks' funding, aligning deposit rates with the Repo rate ensures that changes in policy rates are transmitted to a larger segment of the population.
4. Flexible and Transparent Mechanism:
• Linking rates to the Repo rate provides a more transparent and flexible mechanism for adjusting interest rates based on prevailing economic conditions. It enables quicker adjustments in response to changes in the policy rate.

Benefits:

• Effective Monetary Policy Transmission:
• Ensures that changes in the Repo rate, which is a key monetary policy tool, have a direct and timely impact on deposit and lending rates, contributing to the effectiveness of monetary policy.
• Improved Transparency:
• The linkage brings transparency to the interest rate-setting process, making it easier for consumers to understand how policy changes affect their financial products.
• Faster Transmission of Rate Changes:
• Facilitates a faster and more direct transmission of changes in policy rates to borrowers and depositors, allowing them to benefit from policy adjustments sooner.

In summary, the move to link deposit and lending rates to the Repo rate represents an effort to strengthen the transmission mechanism of monetary policy and ensure that the broader population experiences the intended effects of policy changes.