EconomySaturday, 20 June 2026·The Hindu - Economy
RBI surplus transfer of ₹2.87 lakh crore in FY26: fiscal role, balance sheet and ECF facts
The RBI approved a record ₹2.87 lakh crore surplus transfer to the Union government in May, raising questions on its fiscal role and balance sheet growth.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In May 2026, the Reserve Bank of India approved a record surplus transfer of ₹2.87 lakh crore to the Union government for FY26, exceeding the previous record transfer of ₹2.11 lakh crore.
Key specifics
- The RBI’s surplus transfer was ₹87,416 crore for FY23.
- It jumped to ₹2.11 lakh crore for FY24 and to approximately ₹2.69 lakh crore for FY25.
- The FY26 transfer of ₹2.87 lakh crore was described as the highest so far under the Economic Capital Framework.
- The RBI’s balance sheet grew by 20.6% in one year to ₹91.97 lakh crore by March 2026.
- Gross income rose by over 26% in the same period, driven by foreign assets, domestic securities, foreign exchange operations and reserve management.
Exam lens
Economy and banking question type: RBI surplus, Economic Capital Framework, balance sheet, and non-tax revenue; remember FY23 ₹87,416 crore, FY24 ₹2.11 lakh crore, FY25 ₹2.69 lakh crore, FY26 ₹2.87 lakh crore, and the Bimal Jalan Committee link. TNPSC may ask why RBI surplus transfers matter in fiscal policy.