The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that bank credit growth in India slowed to 14.88 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the fortnight ended April 15, 2026 as compared to 15.96 per cent growth recorded in the previous fortnight ending March 31, 2026. Bank credit stood at Rs 214 lakh crore in the fortnight ended April 15, down from Rs 218 lakh crore in the preceding fortnight. During the reporting period, overall credit in India contracted by 2.06 per cent, or Rs 4.51 lakh crore. In the fortnight ended April 18, 2025, total credit in India stood at Rs 186 lakh crore. 

During the fortnight ended March 31, Indian bank credit grew at its fastest pace in the last two fiscal years, as banks rushed to meet their balance sheet targets ahead of the financial year-end, resulting in a sharp increase in both loans and deposits. Bank credit growth stayed firmly in double digits for over seven consecutive months, reflecting sustained momentum in lending activity. The acceleration in credit expansion gathered pace following a significant rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure, which took place around September 2025. The continued double-digit growth indicates a revival in credit demand from both retail borrowers and corporates in recent months, underscoring improving economic activity and stronger financing needs across sectors.

On the other hand, deposits of banks grew 12.12 per cent year-on-year in the fortnight ended April 15. In absolute terms, deposits stood at Rs 261.88 lakh crore for the fortnight ended April 15, 2026, as compared to Rs 233.56 lakh crore in the fortnight ended April 18, 2025. For the fortnight ended April 15, 2026, investments by banks in state and central government securities rose to Rs 70.64 lakh crore, up from Rs 68.49 lakh crore a year earlier.