10/08/2026
📚 ECONOMICS MCQ | Can You Answer This Without Looking at the Explanation?
When the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increases the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), what happens to the lending capacity of commercial banks?
The correct answer is B — Decrease in commercial banks’ lending capacity. ✅
But why?
The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is the percentage of a bank’s Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) that it is required to maintain with the RBI.
Think of it this way:
🏦 Higher CRR → More money kept with RBI
When banks have to maintain a larger portion of their deposits as reserves with the RBI, they have less money available for lending.
That leads to:
↑ CRR
⬇️
↓ Banks’ lending capacity
⬇️
↓ Credit creation
⬇️
↓ Money supply/liquidity
⬇️
Reduced inflationary pressure
This is why an increase in CRR is considered a contractionary monetary policy measure.
💡 Why does RBI use CRR?
During periods of excessive liquidity or inflationary pressure, the central bank can use monetary-policy tools to influence the amount of money and credit circulating in the economy.
A higher CRR can restrict banks’ ability to create credit, thereby helping to cool down demand and reduce inflationary pressure.
🧠 Remember this simple relationship:
CRR ↑ → Lending Capacity ↓ → Credit Creation ↓ → Liquidity ↓ → Inflationary Pressure ↓
Understanding these chains is much more useful than simply memorising definitions because it helps you solve unfamiliar economics questions too.
📌 Concept: Monetary Policy
📌 Topic: Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)
📌 Level: Competitive Exams / Economics Basics
Economics becomes easier when you understand the mechanism behind the policy—not just the definition.