'RBI in battle mode': Full text of Shaktikanta Das's speech on May 5

Central bank announces scheme allowing banks to support vaccine manufacturers, medical facilities, hospitals in Covid-19.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will give banks Rs 50,000 crore to enable them to lend further for "healthcare needs" in the Covid-19 crisis, said governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday.

“India has mounted a valiant defence against Covid-19. The RBI will continue to monitor the emerging situation and deploy all instruments at its command," said Das at an unscheduled briefing where he listed measures the central bank will take to support the economy during a second wave of infections.

“On-tap liquidity of Rs 50,000 crore at repo rate is being opened till March 31, 2022. Under the scheme banks