RBI’s Forex Transaction Gains Rise 52 Per Cent To Rs 1.69 Lakh Crore In FY26

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reported a sharp increase in income from foreign exchange (forex) transactions in 2025-26, supported by higher earnings from foreign currency assets and overseas investments, according to the RBI Annual Report 2025-26.

Higher Income From Foreign Sources

RBI has earned around Rs 1.69 lakh crore from forex transactions during the financial year ended March 2026, marking an increase of nearly 52 per cent from Rs 1.11 lakh crore recorded in 2024-25.

Income from foreign sources has risen 26.6 per cent to Rs 3.28 lakh crore in 2025-26 from Rs 2.59 lakh crore in the previous financial year, stated the annual report.

The annual report has mentioned that earnings from foreign currency assets, including interest income, exchange gains and gains on securities, have increased during the year. The rate of return on foreign currency assets has improved to 6.4 per cent in 2025-26 from 5.3 per cent a year earlier.

Interest income from foreign securities has increased to Rs 1.07 lakh crore from Rs 97,006.66 crore in 2024-25. Income from amortisation of premium on foreign securities has also risen to Rs 16,354.18 crore from Rs 13,686.63 crore.

RBI has further reported that gains from the sale and redemption of foreign securities have increased to Rs 3,503.49 crore in 2025-26 from Rs 661.64 crore in the previous year.

Balance Sheet Records Strong Growth

The annual report has mentioned that RBI's balance sheet has expanded by Rs 15.72 lakh crore, or 20.6 per cent, to Rs 91.97 lakh crore as on March 31, 2026, compared with Rs 76.25 lakh crore a year earlier.

The increase on the asset side has been driven by a 44.9 per cent rise in domestic investments, a 63.8 per cent increase in gold holdings and a 7.9 per cent growth in foreign investments.

On the liabilities side, the central bank has stated that revaluation accounts have increased by 63.4 per cent. Notes issued; deposits and other liabilities have risen by 11.8 per cent, 11.6 per cent and 21.1 per cent, respectively.

The report has also noted that domestic assets constituted about 29.1 per cent of total assets as of March 31, 2026, while foreign currency assets, gold, and loans and advances to financial institutions outside India accounted for the remaining 70.9 per cent.

Surplus Rises To Rs 2.87 Lakh Crore

RBI has reported an overall surplus of Rs 2,86,588.46 crore for 2025-26, compared with Rs 2,68,590.07 crore in the previous year, reflecting an increase of 6.7 per cent.

The central bank has announced that the surplus amount will be transferred to the central government, in line with its accounting and surplus distribution framework.