New Delhi, May 29: The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) balance sheet expanded by 20.6 per cent in FY26 to Rs 91.97 lakh crore, driven by strong growth in domestic investments, gold holdings and foreign investments, according to the central bank’s annual report released on Friday.
In absolute terms, the RBI’s total assets increased by Rs 15.72 lakh crore during the financial year, rising from Rs 76.25 lakh crore in FY25 to Rs 91.97 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026.
The growth marked a significant acceleration from the 8.2 per cent expansion recorded in FY25, taking the size of the central bank’s balance sheet to 26.4 per cent of India’s GDP.
According to the report, the expansion reflected the impact of liquidity operations, reserve management and shifts in the composition of RBI assets.
Domestic investments recorded the sharpest growth, rising 44.9 per cent during FY26, while gold holdings surged 63.8 per cent and foreign investments increased 7.9 per cent.
As a result, domestic assets accounted for 29.1 per cent of RBI’s total assets, compared with 25.7 per cent a year earlier, indicating a faster pace of domestic asset accumulation.
Meanwhile, foreign currency assets, gold holdings and overseas financial exposures together accounted for 70.9 per cent of total assets, lower than 74.3 per cent in FY25.
On the liabilities side, the RBI reported growth across major categories. Revaluation accounts rose 63.4 per cent, currency notes issued increased 11.8 per cent, deposits grew 11.6 per cent, and other liabilities expanded 21.1 per cent.
The report highlighted the RBI’s steady balance sheet growth trajectory, which increased from Rs 63.45 lakh crore in FY23 to Rs 70.47 lakh crore in FY24, further to Rs 76.25 lakh crore in FY25, and ultimately to Rs 91.97 lakh crore in FY26.
Under its Economic Capital Framework, the central bank transferred Rs 1.09 lakh crore to the Contingency Fund during FY26 while making no allocation to the Asset Development Fund.
The RBI stated that the transfer was aimed at maintaining the contingent risk buffer within the prescribed 4.5–7.5 per cent range of the balance sheet.
Separately, the central bank declared a record dividend of nearly Rs 2.87 lakh crore to the Centre for FY26, providing significant fiscal support amid global uncertainties and the ongoing West Asia crisis.
