INSIGHT UPSC QUIZ

GS Economy Economic Concepts
Q.

Consider the following statements:

1. RBI carries out the Open Market Operations (OMOs) through commercial banks and also directly with the public. 

2. If central bank signals that it will move to a ‘neutral’ liquidity stance from a ‘deficit’ stance, it means more liquidity is likely develop in the system in future. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

ANSWER: (B) 

Open Market Operations

  • Open Market Operations are defined as purchase and sale by central bank of variety of assets such as foreign exchange, gold, Government securities or treasury bills and even company shares. 
  • The objective of OMO is to regulate the money supply (liquidity) in the economy. 
  • Liquidity has a bearing on both interest rates and inflation rates.
  • When the RBI wants to increase the money supply in the economy, it purchases the government securities from the market and it sells government securities to suck out liquidity from the system. 
  • Statement 1 is not correct.

RBI carries out the OMO through commercial banks and does not directly deal with the public. OMO is one of the major monetary policy instruments that RBI uses to smoothen the liquidity conditions through the year and minimise its impact on the interest rate and inflation rate levels.

These operations are often conducted on a day-to-day basis in a manner that balances inflation while helping banks continue to lend. The RBI uses OMO along with other monetary policy tools such as repo rate, cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio to adjust the quantum and price of money in the system.

  • Statement 2 is correct.

If central bank signals that it will move to a ‘neutral’ liquidity stance from a ‘deficit’ stance, it means more liquidity in the system in future. This could arm banks with more funds for lending, and lead to softer interest rates in the economy. 

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