The Reserve Bank of India's income from foreign exchange transactions rose to ₹1.69 lakh crore in FY26, according to the central bank's Annual Report 2025-26.
This compares with ₹1.11 lakh crore reported in FY25, a year-on-year increase of nearly 52%. The increase came during a period of active intervention in the currency market.
During FY26, the RBI sold a gross $195 billion in the spot market as it sought to contain volatility in the foreign exchange market. The rupee declined 9.85% against the US dollar during the year.
Apart from gains from foreign exchange transactions, the RBI reported higher earnings from foreign assets. Interest income from foreign securities rose to ₹1.07 lakh crore in FY26 from ₹97,006.66 crore in the previous financial year.
Income from amortisation of premium on foreign securities also increased. The RBI earned ₹16,354.18 crore under this head during FY26, compared with ₹13,686.63 crore in FY25.
The central bank's balance sheet expanded by 20.6% to ₹91.97 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026, from ₹76.25 lakh crore a year earlier.
On the asset side, domestic investments increased by 44.9%, gold holdings by 63.8%, and foreign investments by 7.9%. Domestic securities held by the RBI rose to ₹22.59 lakh crore from ₹15.59 lakh crore in the previous year, mainly due to purchases of government securities.
The RBI held 880.52 tonnes of gold at the end of FY26. The value of gold held in the issue department increased to ₹3.88 lakh crore from ₹2.37 lakh crore a year earlier, showing the rise in gold prices.
Total income for FY26 stood at ₹3.38 lakh crore, up from ₹2.67 lakh crore in FY25. Expenditure increased to ₹50,995 crore from ₹47,286 crore.
The annual accounts also recorded a net unrealised loss of ₹43,403 crore on outstanding forward contracts as of March 31, 2026, compared with a net unrealised gain of ₹6,985 crore a year earlier. The RBI's net short forward position increased to $103.06 billion from $84.3 billion.
The RBI reported higher income from foreign exchange transactions and foreign securities in FY26, while its balance sheet expanded to ₹91.97 lakh crore. The financial year ended with a surplus of ₹2.87 lakh crore, which was transferred to the central government.
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Published on: May 30, 2026, 11:36 AM IST
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