India forex reserves $740.80 billion

The Reserve Bank of India said on September 4 that the country’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $11.47 billion in the week ended August 28, taking the total to a record $740.80 billion. The increase extended a run of gains that has pushed the reserves stockpile to a new high, according to the central bank’s weekly statistical supplement. Reuters reported the rise was helped by inflows from special schemes aimed at attracting dollar deposits into India. ### Why did the $740.80 billion number draw attention? The $740.80 billion total is the highest level on record in the RBI’s weekly data series, according to Reuters and market data aggregators that track the central bank release. The previous week’s reserves stood at $729.33 billion, which means the latest increase was one of more than $10 billion for a second straight week. (rbi.org.in) The week ended August 28 matters because RBI reserve figures are reported with a lag. The September 4 publication covers the stock of reserves held as of August 28, rather than reserves as of September 4 or September 7. ### What is inside India’s reserves pile? Foreign currency assets rose by $9.337 billion to $600.67 billion in the latest week, Business Standard reported, citing RBI data. (kitco.com) That component is the largest part of India’s reserves and typically includes holdings in major foreign currencies and related assets. Gold reserves rose by about $2.19 billion to $116.41 billion in the same week, while other reserve components made up the balance. (rbi.org.in) The RBI’s weekly statistical supplement is the official source for those component figures. The central bank publishes the reserves data alongside other weekly indicators on liquidity, money supply and banking conditions. ### What pushed reserves higher this week? Reuters said the increase was boosted by “heavy inflows” from special schemes introduced to attract dollar inflows into the country. (business-standard.com) The report linked the recent run-up in reserves to concessional foreign-exchange swap initiatives announced by the RBI in June. (rbi.org.in) India’s reserves have now risen for nine straight weeks and increased by nearly $75 billion over that stretch, Reuters reported. That accumulation followed a period earlier in 2026 when the RBI sold dollars to manage pressure on the rupee during external market volatility. ### Why do markets watch the reserves series so closely? (kitco.com) The RBI uses foreign exchange reserves as part of its management of external payments and currency-market conditions. Higher reserves can strengthen the central bank’s capacity to meet foreign-currency obligations and intervene in the market when needed, though the RBI did not attach policy commentary to the weekly data release. (kitco.com) Trading Economics, which republishes RBI series, listed the August 28 level as the highest on record for India. That made the latest print a reference point for investors tracking the rupee, import cover and external financing conditions. ### Where should readers look for the next update? The RBI posts the reserves figures in its weekly statistical supplement on its official website. (m.rbi.org.in) The September 4 release covers the week ended August 28, and the next weekly publication will show whether the record level was extended into early September. (rbi.org.in) (tradingeconomics.com)