New Delhi, Feb. 5 -- The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to cut the repo rate for the first time in nearly five years in its upcoming meeting scheduled from February 5 to 7. This would mark the first policy meeting under newly appointed Governor Sanjay Malhotra. If implemented, this cut would come after two years of maintaining a steady rate. Market experts see RBI delivering a 25 bps rate cut and believe the decision will be influenced by the government's growth-oriented policies and easing inflation concerns.

The anticipated rate cut follows a Union Budget announcement that surprised many by offering income tax relief of up to Rs.12 lakh. Analysts widely expect the RBI to maintain a neutral sta...