RBI says forex inflows under swap facility reach $72.85 billion as FCNR(B) mobilisation tops USD 65 Billion

The RBI said authorised dealer banks reported USD 65.397 billion in inflows through Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] deposits under the facility as of August 21. This was followed by overseas foreign currency borrowings (OFCBs) at USD 4.86 billion and external commercial borrowings (ECBs) at USD 2.591 billion.

The central bank had introduced the special USD-INR forex swap facility on June 8, covering inflows through FCNR(B) deposits, ECBs and OFCBs. The facility was designed to support foreign currency inflows through these channels and strengthen the availability of foreign exchange in the domestic financial system.

Under the scheme, the window for FCNR(B) deposits remains open until August 31 while the facility for ECBs and OFCBs will remain available until December 31, the RBI said.

The latest data show that FCNR(B) deposits have emerged as the dominant source of foreign currency mobilisation under the facility, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the total inflows reported so far. The combined inflows from OFCBs and ECBs stood at around USD 7.45 billion.

The strong mobilisation comes ahead of the August-end deadline for FCNR(B) deposits and highlights the significant response from banks and overseas depositors to the RBI's special forex facility.

The central bank had earlier announced that the FCNR(B) window would close on August 31, while the ECB and OFCB components would continue for a longer period. The latest figures provide an update on the utilisation of the facility by authorised dealer banks through August 21.

The USD 72.85 billion inflow under the three components represents a substantial mobilisation of foreign currency through the RBI-backed framework, with FCNR(B) deposits remaining the principal contributor. (ANI)