India, Feb. 7 -- Indian shares ended slightly lower on Friday as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced its key interest rates for the first time in nearly five years with an aim to support the slowing economy, which is projected to grow at its weakest pace in four years.

Under the leadership of newly appointed Governor Sanjay Malhotra, the Monetary Policy Committee has reduced the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 percent from 6.50 percent, as widely expected. This was the first reduction since May 2020.

The benchmark 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 197.97 points, or 0.25 percent, to 77,860.19 while the broader NSE Nifty index fell 43.40 points, or 0.18 percent, to 23,559.95.

The BSE mid-cap index edged up by 0.1 percent while th...