Showing confidence that the economy is in good shape to withstand any turbulence and sending out a strong signal to the banks to cut interest rates for consumers, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut interest rates for a third time this year on Tuesday.  The RBI brought down the Repo Rate by 25 basis points to 7.25% but did not touch the Cash Reserve Ratio.

With the repo rate reduced, EMIs are likely to come down much to the relief of consumers.

The reverse repo rate stands adjusted to 6.25 per cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 8.25 per cent.

Previous cuts, in January and March, had also been by 25 basis points.The reduction showed policymakers recognised the need to put the economy on a sounder footing, regardless of data released on Friday that showed India outpaced China by growing 7.5 percent in the March quarter.

"With low domestic capacity utilization, still mixed indicators of recovery, and subdued investment and credit growth, there is a case for a cut in the policy rate today," the RBI said in a statement.

Still, the RBI did not take any new steps to free up cash-strapped commercial banks' liquidity, which bankers had said were needed for them to lower lending rates further and pass on the benefits of monetary easing to the broader economy. Instead, the central bank urged lenders to lower their lending rates.

The RBI also warned it would closely track inflationary trends, citing risks posed to food prices if monsoon rains are weaker than expected, or global crude prices recover, or the rupee weakens due to volatility in global markets.

"A more appropriate stance is to front-load a rate cut today and then wait for data that clarify uncertainty. Meanwhile banks should pass through the sequence of rate cuts into lending rates," the central bank said.

The rate reduction answered calls from both the government and businesses for the RBI to do more to shore up the economy.

While announcing the Second Bi-monthly Policy Statement for the year 2015-16, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said, "The rate cut is an attempt to boost investment. We have done what we think is 'appropriate' in view of current data."

In its credit policy review, the RBI expects Current Account Deficit (CAD) at 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the financial year 2015-16. The RBI also expects inflation to start rising to 6% by January 2016.

There are considerable hopes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic reforms and aggressive spending on infrastructure will solidify the gains in economic growth.

Policy Statement: Click here