The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent on August 10, choosing to look through the recent spike in consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation. However, it revised its CPI inflation projection for 2023-24 to 5.4 per cent, 30 basis points higher than the earlier figure. Moreover, it provided an estimate of 5.2 per cent for the first quarter of 2024-25, indicating that CPI inflation is likely to remain above the 4 per cent target rate for a considerable period. Experts say interest rates will remain on hold for a prolonged period and the