RBI Reports India’s Forex Reserves at $691.11 Billion in 46th Half-Yearly Review
Why it matters
The RBI’s latest disclosure tracks the movement of India's external assets during the second half of the 2025-26 fiscal year. Since initiating these public reports in February 2004, the central bank has used them to provide a granular look at how it deploys gold and foreign currency assets. The drop of nearly $9 billion over six months reflects the complexities of managing currency stability and valuation changes in a shifting global market.
The report covers the composition of reserves, including Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), Gold, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and the Reserve Position in the IMF. Such data points are essential for assessing India's import cover—the number of months the country can pay for imports using its reserves—and the central bank's capacity to absorb external shocks. The 46th edition confirms that despite the marginal dip, the reserve chest remains substantial relative to historical levels.
| Metric | October 2025 | March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Foreign Exchange Reserves | USD 700.09 Billion | USD 691.11 Billion |
| Reporting Interval | 45th Report | 46th Report |
| Net Change | N/A | - USD 8.98 Billion |
Glossary
Foreign Exchange Reserves: Assets held by a central bank in foreign currencies, gold, and SDRs to support the national currency and maintain economic stability.
Import Cover: An economic indicator measuring the number of months of imports that can be sustained by the existing foreign exchange reserves.
NaukriSync Exam Angle
Indian Economy. Note the specific value of India's forex reserves—USD 691.11 billion as of March 2026—and the report's sequence number (46th). Likely exam questions include the exact reserve figures, the purpose of the half-yearly reports initiated in 2004, or the components that make up India's total reserve basket.