In 2003, Business Today was the first publication to identify the Most Powerful Women (MPW) highlighting the achievements of women in the areas of business, economy and policy in India

The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by RBI Governor is scheduled to meet for three days starting September 29

Shanti Ekambaram heads a consumer banking portfolio of Rs 80,000 crore

The central bank has been taking steps proactively to limit the damage to the economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns

Bank enjoys highest price to book value of 4.75 times; largest private bank, HDFC Bank, gets 2.90 times followed by ICICI Bank (1.77 times) and Axis Bank with 1.29 times the book

M&M (4.46%), Infosys (3.01%) and Asian Paints (2.72%) were top gainers on Sensex

Banks are passing on repo cut benefit to borrowers and tying up working capital limits to kickstart businesses

The RBI is predicted to lower its key lending rate or the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.15%, which would take cumulative cuts so far this year to 135 bps.

The central bank has already slashed the repo rate four times consecutively this year amounting to 110 basis points in aggregate.

Shanti Ekambaram juggles all her responsibilities with a keen sense of purpose and planning

In a weakening economy, rising indebtedness could cause problems

Reducing interest rates would please Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who delivered her first budget last month after being promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his re-election in May

Business Today felicitated the most powerful women in business in a glittering ceremony in Mumbai

Shanti Ekambaram, President, Consumer Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank opined that macro environment was conducive for the RBI to cut rates.

With economic growth likely to slow down in the March quarter 2019, the RBI may cut repo rate by 25 basis points in the upcoming monetary policy review, analysts say.