India foreign exchange reserves reach 703 billion dollars as RBI releases weekly statistical supplement
The Reserve Bank of India's Weekly Statistical Supplement released on April 24, 2026, shows India's total foreign exchange reserves at $703.308 billion for the week ended April 17. Foreign Currency Assets, the largest component, stood at $557.463 billion. Gold reserves were valued at $122.133 billion, showing a weekly increase of $790 million, while Special Drawing Rights remained at approximately $18.8 billion.
Key Facts
- RBI / Total Reserves : $703.308 billion as of April 17 2026
- FCA / Metric : $557.463 billion value
- Gold / Metric : $122.133 billion value
- SDRs / Metric : $18.841 billion value
- IMF Position / Metric : $4.870 billion value
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published the latest data on the nation's external buffer in its Weekly Statistical Supplement (WSS) on April 24, 2026. The data reflects the reserve position as of April 17, indicating that India's total reserves reached a landmark $703.308 billion. This increase is primarily driven by movements in Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) and a significant uptick in the value of gold holdings. The FCA, which includes the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the Euro, Pound, and Yen, rose by $1.481 billion during the reporting week.
The growth in gold reserves to $122.133 billion underscores the central bank's strategy to diversify its assets amid global market volatility. Additionally, the reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) showed marginal variations. These figures are critical for maintaining macroeconomic stability and providing a cushion against potential external shocks, especially in the context of the revised definition of a 'fortnight' under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, which shifted from alternate Fridays to specific calendar dates starting December 2025.
| Reserve Component | Value (US$ Million) | Weekly Variation |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Currency Assets | 557,463 | +1,481 |
| Gold | 122,133 | +790 |
| SDRs | 18,841 | +78 |
| Reserve Position in IMF | 4,870 | +14 |
| Total Reserves | 703,308 | +2,362 |
Glossary
Foreign Currency Assets (FCA): Components of foreign exchange reserves that include foreign currencies held by a central bank, adjusted for currency fluctuations.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs): An international reserve asset created by the IMF to supplement its member countries' official reserves.
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