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FOREIGN EXCHANGE MANAGEMENT

With the transition to a market-based system for determining the external value of the Indian rupee the foreign exchange market in India gained importance in the early reform period.

Press Release


PDF document (470 kb)
Date : Mar 28, 2025
Developments in India’s Balance of Payments during the Third Quarter (October-December) of 2024-25

Preliminary data on India’s balance of payments (BoP) for the third quarter (Q3), i.e., October-December 2024-25, are presented in Statements I and II.

Key Features of India’s BoP in Q3:2024-25

  • India’s current account deficit (CAD) increased to US$ 11.5 billion (1.1 per cent of GDP) in Q3:2024-25 from US$ 10.4 billion (1.1 per cent of GDP) in Q3:2023-24 but moderated from US$ 16.7 billion (1.8 per cent of GDP)1 in Q2:2024-25.2

  • Merchandise trade deficit increased to US$ 79.2 billion in Q3:2024-25 from US$ 71.6 billion in Q3:2023-24.

  • Net services receipts increased to US$ 51.2 billion in Q3:2024-25 from US$ 45.0 billion a year ago. Services exports have risen on a y-o-y basis across major categories such as business services, computer services, transportation services and travel services.

  • Net outgo on the primary income account, primarily reflecting payments of investment income, increased to US$ 16.7 billion in Q3:2024-25 from US$ 13.1 billion in Q3:2023-24.

  • Personal transfer receipts, mainly representing remittances by Indians employed overseas, rose to US$ 35.1 billion in Q3: 2024-25 from US$ 30.6 billion in Q3:2023-24.

  • In the financial account, foreign direct investment recorded a net outflow of US$ 2.8 billion in Q3:2024-25 as against an inflow of US$ 4.0 billion in the corresponding period of 2023-24.

  • Foreign portfolio investment recorded a net outflow of US$ 11.4 billion in Q3:2024-25 as against an inflow of US$ 12.0 billion in Q3:2023-24.

  • Net inflows under external commercial borrowings (ECBs) to India amounted to US$ 4.3 billion in Q3:2024-25, as against an outflow of US$ 2.7 billion in the corresponding period a year ago.

  • Non-resident deposits (NRI deposits) recorded a net inflow of US$ 3.1 billion, lower than US$ 3.9 billion a year ago.

  • There was a depletion of US$ 37.7 billion to the foreign exchange reserves (on a BoP basis) in Q3:2024-25 as against an accretion of US$ 6.0 billion in Q3:2023-24 (Table 1).

BoP During April-December 2024

  • India’s CAD widened to US$ 37.0 billion (1.3 per cent of GDP) during April-December 2024 from US$ 30.6 billion (1.1 per cent of GDP) during April-December 2023 primarily on account of a higher merchandise trade deficit.

  • Net invisibles receipts were higher during April-December 2024 than a year ago on account of services and transfers.

  • Net FDI inflow at US$ 1.6 billion during April-December 2024 was lower than US$ 7.8 billion during April-December 2023.

  • During April-December 2024, portfolio investment recorded a net inflow of US$ 9.4 billion, lower than US$ 32.7 billion during the corresponding period a year ago.

  • There was a depletion of US$ 13.8 billion to the foreign exchange reserves (on a BoP basis) during April-December 2024.

Table 1: Major Items of India's Balance of Payments
(US$ billion)
  October- December 2023 PR October-December 2024 P April – December 2023 PR April – December 2024 P
  Credit Debit Net Credit Debit Net Credit Debit Net Credit Debit Net
A. Current Account 236.0 246.4 -10.4 261.6 273.1 -11.5 689.3 719.9 -30.6 753.2 790.2 -37.0
1. Goods 106.6 178.3 -71.6 109.8 189.0 -79.2 319.8 512.7 -192.9 325.5 552.8 -227.2
    of which:                        
      POL 20.2 46.0 -25.9 12.6 48.4 -35.7 61.9 130.0 -68.1 49.3 141.4 -92.1
2. Services 87.8 42.8 45.0 103.5 52.3 51.2 251.7 131.6 120.1 285.5 150.0 135.5
3. Primary Income 10.1 23.2 -13.1 12.3 29.0 -16.7 31.0 65.9 -34.9 41.3 78.6 -37.3
4. Secondary Income 31.5 2.2 29.3 36.1 2.9 33.2 86.8 9.7 77.1 100.9 8.9 92.0
B. Capital Account and Financial Account 216.3 205.0 11.3 320.0 309.1 10.9 603.9 573.0 30.9 898.7 862.2 36.4
    of which:                        
1. Direct Investment 18.9 14.9 4.0 20.8 23.6 -2.8 54.7 46.9 7.8 66.2 64.6 1.6
2. Portfolio Investment 125.5 113.5 12.0 171.4 182.8 -11.4 327.2 294.5 32.7 513.4 503.9 9.4
3. Other Investments 65.9 62.4 3.5 83.4 90.4 -7.0 205.2 176.9 28.2 261.9 235.5 26.4
    of which:                        
      NRI Deposits 22.4 18.5 3.9 25.9 22.8 3.1 62.5 53.2 9.3 78.3 64.9 13.3
      ECBs to India 3.9 6.6 -2.7 11.2 6.9 4.3 21.7 20.7 1.0 32.1 21.1 11.0
4. Reserve Assets [Increase (-)/Decrease (+)] 0.0 6.0 -6.0 37.7 0.0 37.7 0.0 32.9 -32.9 37.7 23.8 13.8
C. Errors & Omissions (-) (A+B) 0.0 0.9 -0.9 0.6 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 -0.3 0.6 0.0 0.6
PR: Partially Revised; and P: Preliminary.
Note: Total of sub-components may not tally with aggregate due to rounding off.

(Puneet Pancholy)  
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2024-2025/2498


1 CAD for Q2:2024-25 was revised upwards to US$ 16.7 billion from US$ 11.2 billion earlier primarily due to an upward adjustment of customs data on merchandise imports. For Q1:2024-25, the CAD was revised downwards to US$ 8.9 billion from US$ 10.2 billion majorly due to a downward adjustment of customs data on merchandise imports.

2 https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=59395. For longer time series data, please see: CIMS DBIE (rbi.org.in) › Statistics › External Sector › International Trade › Quarterly/Yearly.


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