RBI Annual Report FY 2025-26 covers RBI Communication Policy 3.0, social media, RBI Talks, BRICS, G20, IMF, BIS, FSB, SAARCFINANCE and global central-bank cooperation.
The RBI Annual Report FY 2025-26 shows that communication and international engagement have become important components of modern central banking. During the year, RBI strengthened its communication channels through social media, regional outreach, public-awareness campaigns and the launch of RBI Talks, while simultaneously deepening engagement with the IMF, World Bank, BIS, G20, FSB, BRICS, SAARCFINANCE and other central banks. India also assumed the BRICS Chair from January 1, 2026, giving RBI an important role in the central-bank workstreams of the BRICS Finance Track. For RBI Grade B Promotion Exam, Grade B, UPSC, banking examinations and interviews, this part is important because questions can combine institutional facts, international forums, dates, themes and RBI’s specific role in global financial cooperation.
1. Why Communication Matters for a Central Bank
Monetary policy works partly through expectations.
When RBI changes:
- the policy repo rate,
- its monetary-policy stance,
- liquidity conditions,
- regulatory requirements,
financial markets, banks, businesses and households need to understand what RBI has done and why.
Therefore, communication is not simply public relations.
It supports:
Transparency → credibility → better understanding → effective transmission of policy
The Annual Report records RBI’s continued use of multiple communication channels to reach different sections of the public.
2. RBI Communication Policy 3.0
The communication framework during FY 2025-26 operated under the broader:
Communication Policy 3.0
The approach focused on:
- Wider audience coverage
- Real-time communication
- Regional-language outreach
- Social-media engagement
- Public awareness
- Media interaction
- Countering misinformation.
RBI therefore increasingly treats communication as a multi-channel institutional function.
3. RBI’s Social Media Strategy
RBI used multiple platforms for official communication and awareness.
These included:
- X — through the RBI and RBI Says accounts
- YouTube — speeches, events and interviews
- Facebook — RBI Says
- Public App, particularly for wider regional-language outreach.
The important point is that social media is not being used merely for publicity.
RBI uses it as a tool for:
transparent and real-time communication.
4. Social-Media Monitoring and Misinformation
The growth of digital communication also creates a problem:
Information spreads quickly — including false information.
RBI therefore monitors online activity through a vendor platform and coordinates with the:
Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit
to counter misinformation.
Exam Point
Remember the chain:
RBI social-media monitoring → vendor platform → coordination with PIB Fact Check Unit → misinformation control
5. RBI Talks Podcast
A significant communication initiative was the launch of:
RBI Talks
The podcast was launched on:
January 1, 2026
It forms part of RBI’s effort to communicate central-banking concepts and policy issues through contemporary communication formats.
This is particularly relevant because central-bank communication is moving beyond traditional press releases and speeches towards digital, accessible and audience-specific formats.
6. Post-Monetary Policy Press Conferences
During FY 2025-26:
Six press conferences were conducted.
They coincided with the six bi-monthly monetary-policy announcements.
The Governor and Deputy Governors interacted with members of the media at these conferences.
Why important?
The press conference provides an additional communication channel through which RBI can explain:
- Policy decisions
- Inflation developments
- Growth outlook
- Risks
- Policy reasoning.
For exam purposes:
FY 2025-26 → 6 post-MPC press conferences.
7. Media Interactions and Regional Outreach
RBI also conducted:
Six informal media interactions
in Mumbai and Delhi during the year.
These were organised in a:
Chatham House setup
to facilitate interaction with the media.
RBI also recognised the importance of regional media.
Therefore, four regional media workshops were conducted during FY 2025-26 at:
- Vijayawada
- Bhubaneswar
- Nagpur
- Jaipur.
8. Regional-Language Communication
Central banking information can be difficult for ordinary citizens to understand.
RBI therefore uses multilingual communication and regional media outreach.
The Annual Report records campaigns through:
- Hindi
- English
- Major regional languages
- Public-facing digital platforms.
The objective is to make financial and regulatory information more accessible to different sections of society.
9. Major Public-Awareness Campaigns
RBI’s FY 2025-26 campaigns covered a wide range of topics.
Some important campaigns were:
| Campaign | Period |
|---|---|
| Retail Direct Scheme App | June 2025 |
| RB-IOS / First Resort Complaint | June 2025 |
| Nomination Facility | June–July 2025 |
| Children’s Awareness Campaign | August 2025 |
| Re-KYC | August–September 2025 |
| Sachet Portal | August–September 2025 |
| MANI App | September 2025 |
| Forex Trading Platform | September 2025 |
| Continuous Cheque Clearing | October 2025 |
| Unclaimed Deposits | October–November 2025 |
| Digital Arrest | November 2025; March 2026 |
| Re-KYC, CKYCR & VKYC | December 2025–January 2026 |
| Financial Literacy Week 2026 | February 2026 |
| UDGAM Portal | February–March 2026 |
| Digital Payment Awareness Week | March 2026 |
| CBDC | March 2026 |
| RB-IOS WhatsApp Campaign | March 2026 |
Exam Insight
The campaigns demonstrate that RBI’s communication function covers not just monetary policy but also:
financial inclusion + consumer protection + digital payments + KYC + fraud prevention + financial literacy.
10. RBI’s International Relations: Big Picture
The RBI International Department continued to deepen engagement with:
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- G20
- Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
- Financial Stability Board (FSB)
- BRICS
- SAARCFINANCE
- Foreign central banks.
The purpose is not simply diplomatic.
International central-bank cooperation helps RBI deal with:
- Global financial stability
- Cross-border payments
- Financial regulation
- Capital flows
- Currency arrangements
- Climate-related financial risks
- FinTech
- Cyber risks
- Crisis-management mechanisms.
11. BRICS: A Major Focus in FY 2025-26
One of the most important international developments was:
India assumed the BRICS Chair on January 1, 2026.
RBI therefore had a significant role in the central-bank component of India’s BRICS agenda.
BRICS Finance Track discussions included:
- BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement
- Climate-risk frameworks
- Stress-testing methodologies
- Cross-border payment connectivity
- Artificial intelligence
- Cyber-risk assessments of critical technology suppliers.
12. BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement
The:
BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)
was an important area of RBI’s engagement.
During FY 2025-26:
- Amendments to the BRICS CRA Treaty were being finalised.
- Discussions were initiated regarding onboarding new BRICS members into the CRA.
- RBI co-chaired the first BRICS Finance and Central Bank Deputies meeting on February 26, 2026.
- The first round of working-group meetings under central-bank workstreams concluded in March 2026.
Exam Trap
Do not confuse:
BRICS CRA with ordinary bilateral currency swaps.
The CRA is a multilateral financial safety-net arrangement among BRICS countries.
13. SAARCFINANCE
RBI continued regional cooperation through:
SAARCFINANCE
SAARCFINANCE is a:
Network of Central Bank Governors and Finance Secretaries of SAARC countries.
Its activities during FY 2025-26 included:
- Scholarships
- Field visits
- Technical assistance
- Capacity building
- Knowledge sharing.
Areas included:
- Banking regulation
- Banking supervision
- Green financing
- Financial inclusion
- Data warehousing
- Monetary policy
- Treasury operations.
14. SAARC Currency Swap Arrangement
RBI continued operational readiness under the:
Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC countries 2024–27
During FY 2025-26, RBI extended support to:
- Maldives
- Bhutan
under the arrangement.
For 2026-27, RBI proposes to initiate work relating to the:
Currency Swap Arrangement framework for SAARC countries for 2027–2030.
15. BIS Engagement
RBI continued active participation in the:
Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
Activities included analytical support for:
- Governors’ bi-monthly meetings
- Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS)
- BIS Annual General Meeting.
Why BIS matters for exams
BIS is often described as a major forum for central-bank cooperation.
For RBI, engagement with BIS is relevant to:
- Monetary policy
- Financial stability
- Banking regulation
- Global financial-market developments.
16. Financial Stability Board
RBI participated in discussions across various:
FSB Standing Committees
Important subjects included:
- International cooperation for financial stability
- Resilience of non-bank financial institutions
- Crypto-assets
- Emerging financial technologies
- Cross-border payments
- Resolution frameworks
- Climate-related financial risks.
RBI also contributed inputs to FSB reports and surveys.
17. SEACEN
Another important institution is:
SEACEN Research and Training Centre
SEACEN comprises:
19 central banks/monetary authorities.
It serves as an important Asian capacity-building platform.
RBI participated in several SEACEN meetings during FY 2025-26, including meetings of:
- Executive Committee
- Board of Governors
- Special Executive Committee.
18. G20 and RBI
During FY 2025-26, the:
South African Presidency
continued until the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November 2025.
Its overarching theme was:
“Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”
Important financial-sector priorities included:
- Macroeconomic cooperation
- Global financial safety net
- Volatile capital flows
- NBFI vulnerabilities
- Crypto-assets
- Artificial intelligence
- Cross-border payments.
The United States assumed the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2025.
19. RBI and the IMF
RBI supported India’s participation in:
International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) meetings.
The meetings were held in:
- April 2025
- October 2025.
RBI also facilitated the:
IMF 2025 Article IV consultations
held during September 2025.
The IMF favourably assessed India’s macroeconomic developments in 2025.
20. Financial Sector Assessment Programme
An important international financial-sector assessment was completed during the year.
The joint:
IMF–World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Programme (FSAP)
concluded on:
October 30, 2025
with publication of the World Bank’s Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) of India.
Separately, the IMF’s:
Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) of India
had been published on:
February 28, 2025.
Exam Distinction
FSAP → joint IMF–World Bank financial-sector assessment programme
FSA → World Bank assessment
FSSA → IMF financial-system stability assessment
21. OECD Engagement
RBI contributed to the:
OECD Advisory Task Force on the Codes (ATFC)
India participates as an:
Observer country
in these meetings.
This is a relatively niche fact but exactly the type of detail that can appear in a difficult promotion-exam question.
22. Financial Stability and Global Regulation
The international agenda increasingly overlaps with domestic financial regulation.
Consider the subjects discussed across international forums:
NBFIs + crypto-assets + AI + cyber risk + cross-border payments + climate risk + resolution
These are also major themes in RBI’s domestic regulatory agenda.
Therefore:
International engagement → policy learning → domestic regulation → financial stability
This is the deeper significance of RBI’s international relations.
23. RBI–Bank of Japan Cooperation
RBI hosted the:
7th Senior Level Dialogue between RBI and Bank of Japan
in Mumbai.
The dialogue strengthened:
- Information exchange
- Cooperation
- Understanding of central-banking issues.
RBI also participated in the:
9th Joint Technical Coordination Committee meeting with Nepal Rastra Bank
in November 2025.
24. International MoUs
The Annual Report records MoUs with:
Banque de France
Signed:
March 9, 2026
European Central Bank
Signed:
May 10, 2026
The terms of engagement with the:
Bank of Japan
were renewed for one year.
Important source-discipline point
The ECB MoU date falls after March 31, 2026, even though it appears in the Annual Report’s international-relations discussion. Therefore, if asked specifically about FY 2025-26 year-end events, distinguish this post-year-end date.
25. India–UK and India–US Engagement
RBI also provided inputs for:
- 13th India–UK Economic and Financial Dialogue
- India–US Bilateral Trade Agreement
- India–UK Vision 2035.
This illustrates that RBI’s international work is not limited to central-bank-to-central-bank relationships.
It also supports India’s wider:
economic diplomacy + financial policy + international financial architecture
26. International Relations: 2026-27 Agenda
RBI’s International Department identified two important priorities for 2026-27:
1. BRICS
Steer activities under the central-bank workstreams of the:
BRICS Finance Track
during India’s BRICS Chair in 2026.
2. SAARC
Begin work relating to the:
Currency Swap Arrangement framework for SAARC countries for 2027–2030.
These are extremely important forward-looking facts for interviews and promotion examinations.
27. Quick Comparison: Major International Forums
| Forum / Institution | RBI’s Key Engagement |
|---|---|
| BIS | Central-bank cooperation, CGFS, Governors’ meetings |
| BRICS | CRA, cross-border payments, climate risk, AI, cyber risk |
| SAARCFINANCE | Regional capacity building and technical assistance |
| G20 | Macro policy, financial safety net, NBFIs, AI, crypto, cross-border payments |
| IMF | Article IV, IMFC, macroeconomic and financial-sector issues |
| World Bank | FSAP / Financial Sector Assessment |
| FSB | Global financial regulation and financial stability |
| SEACEN | Asian central-bank research and training |
| OECD | Advisory Task Force on the Codes |
28. Most Important Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | India assumed BRICS Chair |
| January 1, 2026 | RBI Talks podcast launched |
| February 26, 2026 | First BRICS Finance & Central Bank Deputies meeting co-chaired by RBI |
| March 9, 2026 | MoU with Banque de France |
| March 5–6, 2026 | International Conference on Resilient Reserves |
| May 10, 2026 | MoU with ECB — post-FY25-26 year-end |
| October 30, 2025 | IMF–World Bank FSAP concluded |
| November 22–23, 2025 | G20 Leaders’ Summit under South African Presidency |
| December 1, 2025 | US assumed G20 Presidency |
| November 2025 | 7th RBI–Bank of Japan Senior Level Dialogue |
| October 2025 | SEACEN BOG meeting |
29. High-Probability Exam Questions
Q1. When did India assume the BRICS Chair?
January 1, 2026.
Q2. What was the G20 theme under South Africa’s Presidency?
“Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”
Q3. When did the US assume the G20 Presidency?
December 1, 2025.
Q4. How many central banks/monetary authorities comprise SEACEN?
19.
Q5. What is SAARCFINANCE?
A network of Central Bank Governors and Finance Secretaries of SAARC countries.
Q6. Which two countries received RBI support under the SAARC currency swap arrangement during FY 2025-26?
Maldives and Bhutan.
Q7. When did RBI launch RBI Talks?
January 1, 2026.
Q8. How many post-MPC press conferences were conducted in FY 2025-26?
Six.
Q9. How many regional media workshops were conducted?
Four.
Q10. Where were the four regional media workshops conducted?
Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Nagpur and Jaipur.
Q11. When did the IMF–World Bank FSAP conclude?
October 30, 2025.
Q12. What was the date of the IMF’s FSSA of India?
February 28, 2025.
Q13. What is the BRICS CRA?
BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement.
Q14. What was the key BRICS central-bank meeting co-chaired by RBI on February 26, 2026?
The first BRICS Finance and Central Bank Deputies meeting.
Q15. Which organisation’s Fact Check Unit does RBI coordinate with?
Press Information Bureau (PIB).
30. One-Minute Revision Sheet
Communication Policy 3.0 → RBI communication framework
RBI social media → real-time communication
Misinformation → coordination with PIB Fact Check Unit
RBI Talks → January 1, 2026
Post-MPC press conferences → 6
Media interactions → 6
Regional media workshops → 4
Regional workshops → Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Nagpur, Jaipur
India BRICS Chair → January 1, 2026
BRICS CRA → Contingent Reserve Arrangement
BRICS Deputies meeting → February 26, 2026
SAARCFINANCE → SAARC central-bank/finance-secretary network
SAARC swap support → Maldives + Bhutan
SEACEN → 19 central banks/monetary authorities
G20 South Africa theme → Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability
US G20 Presidency → December 1, 2025
IMF Article IV → September 2025
FSAP → concluded October 30, 2025
IMF FSSA → February 28, 2025
FSB → global financial regulation/stability
BIS → central-bank cooperation
OECD ATFC → India observer
Banque de France MoU → March 9, 2026
ECB MoU → May 10, 2026
31. The Bigger Picture: What RBI’s Global Engagement Tells Us
The international-relations chapter reveals a clear evolution.
Earlier model
Central banks primarily exchanged information.
Modern model
Central banks increasingly cooperate on:
- Financial stability
- Cross-border payments
- AI
- Cybersecurity
- Climate risk
- Crypto-assets
- NBFI resilience
- Resolution mechanisms
- Currency arrangements.
That means international cooperation is now part of domestic financial-sector resilience.
For India, this is particularly important because India’s financial system is increasingly integrated with global capital markets, international payments and cross-border financial infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- RBI’s communication strategy is based on multiple channels, transparency and wider public outreach.
- Communication Policy 3.0 formed the broad communication framework during FY 2025-26.
- RBI used X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook and Public App for communication and awareness.
- RBI monitors social media and coordinates with the PIB Fact Check Unit against misinformation.
- RBI Talks was launched on January 1, 2026.
- RBI conducted six post-MPC press conferences during FY 2025-26.
- RBI conducted six informal media interactions and four regional media workshops.
- India assumed the BRICS Chair on January 1, 2026.
- BRICS discussions covered CRA, climate risk, stress testing, cross-border payments, AI and cyber risks.
- RBI co-chaired the first BRICS Finance and Central Bank Deputies meeting on February 26, 2026.
- RBI supported Maldives and Bhutan under the SAARC currency swap arrangement during FY 2025-26.
- SEACEN comprises 19 central banks/monetary authorities.
- The G20’s South African Presidency used the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”
- The US assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2025.
- RBI facilitated the IMF’s 2025 Article IV consultations.
- The IMF–World Bank FSAP concluded on October 30, 2025.
- RBI actively participated in BIS and FSB activities concerning financial stability and global regulation.
- The international agenda increasingly connects AI, cyber risk, crypto-assets, climate risk and cross-border payments with financial stability.
- RBI’s 2026-27 priorities include steering BRICS central-bank workstreams and preparing the next SAARC currency swap framework for 2027–2030.
Final Exam Perspective
For the RBI Grade B Promotion Exam, the biggest mistake would be memorising the international organisations as a random list.
Build the association:
BIS → central-bank cooperation
IMF → Article IV / IMFC
World Bank → Financial Sector Assessment
FSAP → IMF–World Bank assessment programme
FSB → global financial regulation and stability
BRICS → CRA + cross-border payments + AI + climate + cyber
SAARCFINANCE → regional cooperation + capacity building
SEACEN → Asian central-bank research and training
G20 → global macro-financial coordination
And for communication:
Communication Policy 3.0 → social media → regional outreach → RBI Talks → media interaction → misinformation control
The deeper message of the RBI Annual Report FY 2025-26 is that a modern central bank must do two things simultaneously: communicate effectively at home and cooperate effectively abroad. Domestic credibility depends partly on clear communication, while financial stability increasingly depends on international coordination.
Part 23 complete.