MUMBAI, Dec. 19 -- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra voted for a 25-bps rate cut in December on the back of a benign inflation outlook and to support growth, according to the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting released 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," said Malhotra.

The cut, he said, will also stimulate demand and support growth.

"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," said Malhotra.

The RBI cut the repo rate by 25 bas...