Published: 14 December 2025RBI/DD NewsEconomy
RBI OMO ₹1 Lakh Crore Liquidity Injection in December
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced and executed Open Market Operations (OMO) purchases totalling ₹1 lakh crore in December 2025 to inject liquidity into the banking system. The purchases were conducted in two tranches of ₹50,000 crore each — the first on December 11 and the second on December 18, 2025.
Open Market Operations are a key monetary policy tool through which the RBI buys government securities from banks, thereby releasing rupee liquidity into the system. When the RBI buys securities, banks receive cash, which they can then deploy as loans to businesses and individuals, thereby stimulating economic activity.
The December OMO purchases come as a supplement to the monetary easing cycle already underway. The RBI MPC had cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on December 3-5, 2025. The OMO purchases complement the rate cut by addressing the liquidity side of monetary transmission — ensuring that lower rates actually reach borrowers through an adequately liquid banking system.
Additionally, the RBI conducted a USD/INR Buy-Sell Swap of $5 billion on December 16, 2025, which further injected rupee liquidity into the system while simultaneously providing dollar liquidity through the swap mechanism. These coordinated interventions reflect the RBI's intent to support credit growth, moderate borrowing costs, and manage the rupee's exchange rate in a volatile global environment.
Analysts noted that the combination of rate cuts, OMO purchases, and currency swaps represents the most aggressive monetary easing by the RBI since 2020, driven by a combination of below-target inflation (around 2.2%) and a desire to support the 8% GDP growth trajectory.
0Mains angle
Q: Evaluate the RBI's December 2025 monetary easing — ₹1 lakh crore OMO, repo cut to 5.25%, and $5 billion USD/INR swap — and its transmission to growth.
Answer (50 words):
RBI conducted ₹1 lakh crore OMO purchases in December 2025, ₹50,000 crore each on December 11 and 18, supplementing MPC's 25-bps repo cut to 5.25% on December 3-5, 2025. A $5 billion USD/INR buy-sell swap on December 16 added liquidity. With inflation near 2.2%, aggressive easing supports 8% growth.
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Frequently asked questions
What are Open Market Operations (OMO)?
OMO are a monetary policy tool through which the RBI buys (or sells) government securities from (to) banks. When RBI buys securities, it releases rupee liquidity into the banking system, stimulating credit and economic activity.
How much did RBI inject through OMO in December 2025?
RBI injected ₹1 lakh crore through OMO purchases in December 2025, in two tranches of ₹50,000 crore each — on December 11 and December 18, 2025.
How do OMO purchases complement repo rate cuts?
While repo rate cuts lower the cost of borrowing, OMO purchases ensure that adequate liquidity is available in the banking system, together enabling lower interest rates to actually reach borrowers through better monetary transmission.
What was the repo rate after the December 2025 MPC cut?
The RBI MPC cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25% during its December 3-5, 2025 meeting, complemented by ₹1 lakh crore OMO and a $5 billion USD/INR swap on December 16.
What is a USD/INR Buy-Sell Swap?
In a Buy-Sell Swap, the RBI buys US dollars from banks for rupees now and agrees to sell them back at a future date (3-year swap). This injects rupee liquidity in the short term while supporting the rupee's exchange rate stability.