The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank and primary monetary authority of India, responsible for regulating the country’s banking system and managing its monetary policy. Established in 1935 under the Reserve Bank of India Act, it plays a critical role in maintaining financial stability, regulating credit flow, and ensuring economic growth. The RBI's headquarters are located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The RBI’s primary functions include issuing currency, regulating banks and financial institutions, managing foreign exchange reserves, and serving as the banker to the Government of India. It also oversees various payment systems and implements measures to control inflation and liquidity in the economy. Key monetary tools used by the RBI include repo rate, reverse repo rate, cash reserve ratio (CRR), and statutory liquidity ratio (SLR).

The RBI is often involved in major financial reforms and initiatives, such as the implementation of demonetization in 2016, the introduction of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and measures to promote digital transactions across India. It also plays a critical role in ensuring financial inclusion through initiatives like the Jan Dhan Yojana and promoting financial literacy.