Falling Rupee Value
Exchange rate is the price of foreign currency (USD, Yen, Euro, Pound etc) in terms of domestic currency (rupee) i.e. amount of domestic currency needed to buy one unit of foreign currency. Currently price of 1$ = 53.74, which means 1$ can be purchased in exchange of 54.
Exchange rate tells us the value of domestic currency in relation to one unit of foreign currency. 1$ is worth 53.74. Rupee prices keep fluctuating all the time. Sometimes we need more rupees to buy one unit of foreign currency and sometimes we need fewer rupees to buy one unit of foreign currency. This change in rupee price is known as rupee appreciation or depreciation.
Rupee appreciation is when value of rupee increases (becomes expensive) and fewer rupees can buy one unit of foreign currency. This is also known as strengthening of rupee as now INR is worth more than foreign currency. Suppose exchange rate changes to 1$ = 50, we say rupee has appreciated as 1$ can buy fewer INR.
Rupee depreciation is when rupee value decreases (becomes less expensive) and more rupees can buy one unit of foreign currency. This is also known as weakening of rupee as now INR worth is less than foreign currency. If exchange rate changes to 1$ = 55, we say rupee has depreciated as 1$ can buy more INR. Currency price is always stated in relation to another currency. So when one currency appreciates the other currency depreciates.
Exchange rate determination process between the Indian rupee and US dollar
The rate of exchange of the rupee against the US dollar is determined by the demand and supply of the US dollar in our country. It is worth knowing that the US dollar is primarily demanded by importers and the Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs). The US dollar is also demanded for the Investment/”>Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) put their Money in the stock market of the domestic market while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the capital which is invested in the companies of the domestic country.
The supply or earning of dollar comes mainly from the exports of goods and service and the inflow of Remittances by the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). That is why when the importers demand more of the dollars for the international payments than their supply, the rupee weakens vis-à-vis dollar. Consequently the value of Indian rupee falls down against the US Dollar (US$).
On the contrary, with the fall in the demand for dollars, which is again driven by myriad factors, the value of rupees appreciates and that of dollars decreases. No doubt, besides the fundamental theory of market forces of demand and supply which is also called as the price mechanism, there are more other factors like those of social-political, diplomatic and foreign policies of a country which play substantial role in the determination of the value of Indian rupees against US Dollars.
Price of crude oil
With the fast development and trajectory of high rate of Growth of the Indian economy, the demand for petrol and petroleum products has been consistently rising and as a result we require importing more of crude oil annually from various foreign countries. Oil is the second largest fuel after coal. India imports close to 70 per cent of its oil requirements from more than 8 countries. The rest 30 per cent of oil is met through domestic production. Saudi Arabia and Iran top the list of the countries from where we import most of the crude oil. The prominent oil companies of India require approximately 330 million dollars every day for the import of crude oil and gas and this figure very strikingly shows how much dollars we require every month to purchase it from the various oil producing countries of the world. Thus, increase in the demand for the dollar leads to its appreciation and decrease in the value of the Indian rupees.
Current Account Deficit (CAD)
The current account shows the records of exports and imports of both the material goods and Services of a country with the rest of the world. Export and import of goods are totally different from the export and import of services. While goods are tangible and called as merchandise or visible trade, and of which records are available at the Ports. Services are non-tangible and called as invisible trade the records of which are not available at the ports. In fact, the Current Account Deficit is the difference between the visible and invisible exports and visible and invisible imports of a nation with the rest of the world. Shipping, Banking, insurance, investment and compensation of employees are main items which make the parts of services that are exported and imported by a nation with the foreign countries. When our receipts are less than the payments which we make for the purchase of both the goods and services we face the deficit in our current account. As per the latest data, India’s current account deficit has increased to 15.8 billion US $ or 2.4 percent of the GDP. The drastic decrease in the exports has added fuel to troubled waters. They say that unnecessary delay in the clearance and approval of various development proposals too has aggravated the situation and we face the problem of dollar crunch. Consequently we are forced to spend from the Foreign Exchange reserves for making the payments for all the imports.
What makes the current account deficit more distressing is the ever-increasing import bill of oil and gold. The heavy purchase of gold and crude oil puts heavy pressure on the foreign exchange reserves and finally our current account deficit goes on worsening. That is why there is unprecedented rise in the demand for the dollars which results in the appreciation of its value and finally the value of rupee weakens.
Withdrawal by investors
In the recent past, numerous development projects that were to be started in the country have been withdrawn by the foreign investors due to problems like uncertain delays in the approval of proposals and bottlenecks in the acquisition of land. So many such other projects which could not be approved by the government of India were withdrawn and due to which demand for the dollar abruptly went up. In case of approvals of these proposals, India would have received huge investments. Consequently, the demand for the Indian rupee and its values would have substantially increased. Because when any foreign company invests in India it needs rupees in exchange of US Dollar for the various transactions in the country.
Increasing import bill of India
In the post reformed milieu of the Indian economy, the import bill has been consistently rising every year. The share of gold import is one of the important factors. The huge rush for gold, brought about by the preference of the people to invest in it, has further worsened and weakened the Indian rupees against the US dollars. According to the latest survey, the gold import alone makes the 10 per cent of India’s import bill. This is really a surprising fact that 141 tons of gold were imported in April 2013 which increased to 162 tons in the month of May this year. The import of gold has increased to 750 tons in the current year of 2018. This consistent increase in the demand for gold means a rise in the demand for more US dollars in comparison with the rupees. That is why the value of the US dollar appreciates and that of the Indian rupees goes down.
Slump in the Indian economy
In the recent years the overall production in all the three sectors of the Indian economy – primary, secondary and tertiary has recorded very poor growth and consequently the production in them has substantially gone down. Investors from the foreign countries do not find India a country of lucrative businesses. Decrease in the export, brought about by fall in the production in agriculture, manufacturing and mining, leads to decrease in the earning of dollars. This finally ends up increasing the demand for dollars and raising its value against the Indian currency.
Problem in the Equity market
In the critical condition of consistent fall in the value of rupees against the dollars investors prefer to deposit their money in the safe havens of US treasuries, Swiss franc, gold and so on to avoid losses to their investments. This alarming situation of shifting of investment from India to other destinations leads to redeeming of their investments from the country, and consequently the demand for the dollar goes up which brings down the values of rupee.
Increasing Fiscal Deficit
Generally fiscal deficit shows the dependence of a country on the foreign debt to match the expenses which exceed the revenues of the government. It is the estimated borrowing by the government to meet the increased expenditures in a year. For this the government borrows from the international financial institutions like World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. It is often expressed as the Percentage of the GDP. It shows the excess of expenditure over the government receipts other than borrowings. Greater fiscal deficit means greater borrowings. For the payment of all these foreign debts along with interest accrued to them, we require dollars and this ends up raising the value of dollar vis-à-vis the Indian rupee.
Steps To Stop Falling Of Indian Rupee
However, certain measures can and should be taken to arrest this rather drastic fall, some are suggested below:
- Increase Foreign Investment
- The most obvious way to offset distribution is to increase growth and bring more dollars into the system, thus reducing the CAD. Relaxing of norms for FII investments is one of the more obvious ways to do it. Providing Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE and local support to the investors is another, admittedly more difficult avenue that can be explored in this regard.
- Making Bonds/”>Government Bonds available to a wider investor base
- Making government bonds available to non-resident investors will also increase the inflow of dollars in to the country and help contain the CAD, and in turn, the depreciation of rupee.
- Strengthening the rupee by RBI measures
- The Reserve Bank, in its capacity as India’s central banking institution and monetary policymaker, has, at its disposal a number of instruments with the capability to arrest depreciation. Some examples of such measures are: Deregulation of interest rates on deposits from non-resident Indians, introducing measures to curb speculative trading and sale of dollars from forex reserves.
In today’s day and age, when financial networks span continents and financial decisions and measures are made keeping in mind a global outlook, linking nationalism and economics is a colossal mistake. Although some measures are necessary to protect people against the adverse effects of drastic depreciation, drastic measures such as curbing imports should be avoided as they may create more problems than they solve. Nations and governments should realize that depreciation and appreciation are phenomena created by the immense interconnected ECOLOGY of the global free market and stick to policies that do the simple thing: create infrastructure and promote Inclusive Growth.,
The Indian rupee has been on a downward spiral in recent months, losing value against the US dollar and other major currencies. This has caused concern among businesses and consumers, as it has made imports more expensive and eroded the value of Savings.
There are a number of factors that have contributed to the falling rupee value. One factor is the widening Trade Deficit, which occurs when a country imports more goods and services than it exports. This puts downward pressure on the value of the currency. Another factor is the outflow of foreign investment, which occurs when investors sell Indian assets and move their money to other countries. This also puts downward pressure on the value of the rupee.
The falling rupee value has a number of negative effects. It makes imports more expensive, which can lead to higher Inflation. It also erodes the value of savings, which can make it harder for people to afford to buy goods and services. In addition, the falling rupee value can make it more difficult for Indian companies to compete in international markets.
There are a number of measures that can be taken to address the falling rupee value. One measure is to increase exports. This can be done by making Indian goods more competitive in international markets. Another measure is to attract more foreign investment. This can be done by making India a more attractive place to invest, such as by improving the investment Climate and providing tax breaks for foreign investors.
The future of the rupee is uncertain. It is possible that the rupee will continue to fall in value, but it is also possible that it will stabilize or even appreciate. The outcome will depend on a number of factors, including the performance of the Indian economy, the global economy, and the policies of the Indian government.
In conclusion, the falling rupee value is a serious problem that has a number of negative effects. There are a number of measures that can be taken to address the problem, but the future of the rupee is uncertain.
Here are some additional details on the causes, effects, and measures to address the falling rupee value:
- Causes of the falling rupee value:
- The widening trade deficit: India imports more goods and services than it exports. This puts downward pressure on the value of the currency.
- The outflow of foreign investment: Investors sell Indian assets and move their money to other countries. This also puts downward pressure on the value of the rupee.
- The decline in foreign exchange reserves: India’s foreign exchange reserves have been declining in recent months. This has also put downward pressure on the value of the rupee.
- Effects of the falling rupee value:
- Higher inflation: The falling rupee value makes imports more expensive, which can lead to higher inflation.
- Erosion of savings: The falling rupee value erodes the value of savings, which can make it harder for people to afford to buy goods and services.
- Difficulty for Indian companies to compete in international markets: The falling rupee value makes it more difficult for Indian companies to compete in international markets.
- Measures to address the falling rupee value:
- Increase exports: This can be done by making Indian goods more competitive in international markets.
- Attract more foreign investment: This can be done by making India a more attractive place to invest, such as by improving the investment climate and providing tax breaks for foreign investors.
- Reduce the trade deficit: This can be done by reducing imports or increasing exports.
- Increase foreign exchange reserves: This can be done by attracting more foreign investment or by borrowing from foreign countries.
- The future of the rupee:
- The future of the rupee is uncertain. It is possible that the rupee will continue to fall in value, but it is also possible that it will stabilize or even appreciate. The outcome will depend on a number of factors, including the performance of the Indian economy, the global economy, and the policies of the Indian government.
What is the current exchange rate between the US dollar and the Indian rupee?
The current exchange rate between the US dollar and the Indian rupee is 75.05 rupees per dollar.
What are the factors that affect the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Indian rupee?
The exchange rate between the US dollar and the Indian rupee is affected by a number of factors, including:
- The supply and demand for each currency
- The interest rates in each country
- The economic conditions in each country
- Political stability in each country
What is the impact of a falling rupee on the Indian economy?
A falling rupee can have a number of negative impacts on the Indian economy, including:
- Making imports more expensive
- Reducing the value of Indian exports
- Making it more difficult for Indian companies to borrow money
- Reducing the value of Indian investments
What are the measures that the Indian government can take to prevent a fall in the value of the rupee?
The Indian government can take a number of measures to prevent a fall in the value of the rupee, including:
- Raising interest rates
- Selling dollars from its foreign exchange reserves
- Imposing capital controls
What are the benefits of a falling rupee?
There are a few potential benefits of a falling rupee, including:
- Making Indian exports more competitive
- Attracting foreign investment
- Boosting tourism
What are the risks of a falling rupee?
There are a number of risks associated with a falling rupee, including:
- Making imports more expensive
- Reducing the value of Indian exports
- Making it more difficult for Indian companies to borrow money
- Reducing the value of Indian investments
What is the future outlook for the Indian rupee?
The future outlook for the Indian rupee is uncertain. The rupee could continue to fall if the Indian economy weakens or if there is a global economic slowdown. However, the rupee could also strengthen if the Indian economy improves or if there is a global economic recovery.
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The value of a currency is determined by:
(A) Supply and demand
(B) The government
(C) The International Monetary Fund
(D) The World Bank -
When the value of a currency falls, it is called:
(A) Depreciation
(B) Appreciation
(C) Devaluation
(D) Revaluation -
Which of the following is a reason why the value of a currency might fall?
(A) Inflation
(B) A decrease in demand for the currency
(C) An increase in supply of the currency
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is a reason why the value of a currency might rise?
(A) Deflation
(B) An increase in demand for the currency
(C) A decrease in supply of the currency
(D) All of the above -
The value of the rupee has fallen against the dollar in recent years. This means that:
(A) It now takes more rupees to buy a dollar
(B) It now takes fewer rupees to buy a dollar
(C) The rupee is now worth more than the dollar
(D) The rupee is now worth less than the dollar -
The fall in the value of the rupee has a number of consequences, including:
(A) It makes imports more expensive
(B) It makes exports cheaper
(C) It makes it more difficult for Indian companies to compete in international markets
(D) All of the above -
The government has taken a number of measures to try to stabilize the value of the rupee, including:
(A) Raising interest rates
(B) Selling dollars from its reserves
(C) Imposing capital controls
(D) All of the above -
The future of the rupee is uncertain. It is possible that the value of the rupee will continue to fall, but it is also possible that the value of the rupee will stabilize or even rise. The factors that will determine the future value of the rupee include:
(A) The performance of the Indian economy
(B) The policies of the Indian government
(C) The policies of the US government
(D) All of the above