RBI may hold at 5.25% in October and begin rate hikes in December 2026

In an ANI report published by The Economic Times on October 5, Bank of Baroda forecast that the RBI would keep its repo rate at 5.25% at its October 2026 meeting, then begin raising rates in December. The bank projected a cumulative 50–75 basis points of hikes, saying inflation remained within the RBI's target range and did not warrant an immediate increase.