India acquires foreign reserves through various channels such as exports, foreign direct investments, remittances from Indians working overseas, and borrowings from international financial institutions. These reserves are crucial for maintaining stability in the country’s exchange rates and accessing foreign currencies for international trade and economic development.
Explanatory question
India acquires its foreign reserves through various channels, including exports, foreign direct investments (FDIs), remittances from Indians working overseas, and borrowings from international financial institutions. These reserves play a crucial role in maintaining stability in the country’s exchange rates and facilitating international trade and economic development.
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Exports: India earns foreign reserves by exporting goods and services to other countries. Major exports from India include petroleum products, chemicals, textiles, jewelry, pharmaceuticals, and IT services. The revenues generated from these exports contribute to building up foreign reserves.
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Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs): Foreign companies investing in India bring in foreign currency, thereby enhancing the country’s foreign reserves. FDIs are crucial for economic growth and contribute to the creation of jobs and infrastructure development. India has implemented several policies and reforms to attract foreign investments.
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Remittances: Overseas Indians, popularly known as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), send money back to India as remittances. These funds contribute significantly to India’s foreign reserves. In 2020, India ranked as the top recipient of remittances globally, with an estimated inflow of over $83 billion.
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Borrowings from international financial institutions: India also acquires foreign reserves through borrowings from international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. These loans are often utilized for specific development projects and initiatives.
A well-known resource, the IMF, emphasizes the importance of foreign reserves for countries: “Foreign exchange reserves can help the central bank maintain the value of a country’s domestic currency and contribute to macroeconomic stability.” Foreign reserves not only enhance a country’s ability to manage external shocks but also provide confidence to investors and maintain stability in exchange rates.
Interesting facts about India’s foreign reserves:
- As of July 2021, India’s foreign exchange reserves were around $611 billion, making it the fourth-largest holder of forex reserves worldwide.
- India witnessed a significant growth in its foreign reserves from $275 billion in 2010 to over $600 billion in 2021.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) manages and maintains the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
- India’s foreign exchange reserves include foreign currencies, gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) allocated by the IMF, and reserve position in the IMF.
- In times of crisis or economic volatility, countries often utilize their foreign reserves to stabilize their currencies and ensure financial stability.
Table: Comparison of India’s Foreign Reserves (in billions of USD)
| Year | Foreign Reserves |
|---|---|
| 2010 | $275 |
| 2015 | $348 |
| 2020 | $487 |
| 2021 | $611 |
Please note that the figures provided in the table are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the actual values.
Other responses to your inquiry
Reserve Bank of India accumulates foreign currency reserves by purchasing from authorized dealers in open market operations.
India’s foreign exchange reserves are mainly composed of US dollar in the forms of US government bonds and institutional bonds, with nearly 6.6% of forex reserves in gold. The FCAs also include investments in US Treasury bonds, bonds of other selected governments and deposits with foreign central and commercial banks. India’s forex reserves have surged to over $600 billion due to rising inflows into the stock market and FDI investments. As much as 64 per cent of the foreign currency reserves are held in securities like Treasury bills of foreign countries, mainly the US, 28 per cent is deposited in foreign central banks and 7.4 per cent is also deposited in commercial banks abroad.
Video response
India’s foreign exchange reserves have exceeded the $600 billion mark, marking a rise for the third consecutive week and the highest increase in 15 months. This growth is attributed to various factors including revaluation gains, the weakening value of the US dollar, and the decrease in US treasury yields. Foreign investors have also displayed confidence in the Indian markets by investing over $16 billion in the past three months. With the current reserve level, India can cover its imports for the next 11 months, and its reserve position in the Reserve Money Fund (RMF) has also surged to over $5 billion.