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The size of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) balance sheet, which is reflective of activities carried out by it in pursuance of currency issue function as well as monetary policy and reserve management, has increased by Rs 3,72,876.43 crore, i.e., 6.99 percent from Rs 53,34,792.70 crore as on June 30, 2020 to Rs 57,07,669.13 crore as on March 31, 2021. The increase on the asset side was mainly due to increase in foreign and domestic investments by 11.48 percent and 13.75 percent, respectively. On the liability side, the increase was due to increase in deposits, notes issued and other liabilities.

As per the RBI's Annual Report for 2020-21, while income for the year decreased by 10.96 percent, the expenditure decreased by 63.10 percent. The year ended with an overall surplus of Rs 99,122 crore as against Rs 57,127.53 crore in the previous year, representing an increase of 73.51 percent. On account of transition to April-March accounting year from July-June accounting period, the RBI has come out with data for nine months for 2020-21 as compared to twelve months for the previous year. Earlier this month, the Central Board of Directors of RBI had approved transfer of Rs 99,122 crore surplus to the central government.

Domestic assets constituted 26.42 percent, while the foreign currency assets and gold (including gold deposit and gold held in India) constituted 73.58 percent of total assets as on March 31, 2021 as against 28.75 per cent and 71.25 per cent, respectively, as on June 30, 2020. As on March 31, 2021, the Reserve Bank held 695.31 metric tonnes of gold as compared to 661.41 metric tonnes as on June 30, 2020. The increase is on account of addition of 33.90 metric tonnes of gold during the year, the report said. It further said of the 695.31 metric tonnes as on March 31, 2021, 292.30 metric tonnes is held as backing for notes issued and shown separately as an asset of Issue Department.