Mumbai, Dec. 19 -- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra considered the benign inflation outlook, headline as well as core, to vote for a 25-bps rate cut at the December Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, Minutes of the MPC meeting showed on Friday.

"Considering the benign inflation outlook - headline as well as core - real interest rates need to be lower. Therefore, I vote for a 25-bps rate cut. This will also stimulate demand and be growth-supportive," the statement from the RBI Governor said in the minutes.

"Moreover, I am in favour of retaining the neutral stance which gives the requisite flexibility to remain data-dependent and act according to the evolving macroeconomic conditions and outlook," he said.

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