India’s Forex Reserves Rise $1.48 Billion, Touch $695.10 Billion: RBI

New Delhi [India], August 23 : India’s foreign exchange reserves rose for the second consecutive week, climbing by USD 1.48 billion to USD 695.10 billion in the week ending August 15, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported in its latest Weekly Statistical Supplement.

The increase was primarily driven by gains in foreign currency assets (FCA), which rose by USD 1.92 billion to USD 585.90 billion. However, the gold reserves saw a decline of USD 2.16 billion, settling at USD 86.16 billion. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) inched up by USD 41 million to USD 18.78 billion, while India’s reserve position with the IMF improved by USD 15 million to USD 4.75 billion.

In the previous week, forex reserves had surged by USD 4.74 billion to USD 693.61 billion, supported by gains in both FCA and gold holdings. So far in 2025, India’s forex kitty has expanded by about USD 53 billion, strengthening the country’s ability to cover nearly 11 months of imports, according to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra.

Foreign exchange reserves, comprising assets such as the US dollar, Euro, Yen, and Pound Sterling, are maintained by the RBI to manage liquidity and ensure currency stability. The central bank strategically buys dollars when the rupee is strong and sells them during weakness to curb volatility.