India's Forex Reserves on 30 October 2026: What RBI's Weekly Data Shows
Every Friday I see headlines about India's forex reserves going "up" or "down". I am Nishi Jain, a full-time trader in Jaipur and ex-JioBlackRock, and my habit is to skip the headline and open RBI's table.
So here is the latest one, read slowly.
What RBI released
On 6 November 2026, RBI published its Weekly Statistical Supplement extract (Press Release 2026-2027/1462). Table 2 shows India's foreign exchange reserves as on 30 October 2026, in both ₹ crore and US$ million.
RBI notes that differences, if any, are due to rounding off.
The numbers at a glance
As on 30 October 2026, in US$ million:
Total reserves: 717,056 (₹ 68,08,728 crore)
Foreign currency assets: 591,118
Gold: 102,591
SDRs: 18,558
Reserve position in the IMF: 4,790
Change over the week, in US$ million:
Total: −2,691
Foreign currency assets: −2,088
Gold: −559
SDRs: −47
Reserve position in the IMF: +3
By simple arithmetic (derived, not printed by RBI), foreign currency assets were about 82% of the total and gold about 14%.
What each part means
Foreign currency assets are the biggest piece. RBI's footnote says this line excludes SDR holdings, investment in bonds issued by IIFC (UK), amounts lent under SAARC and ACU currency swap arrangements, and RBI's contribution to funding of Nexus Global Payments.
Gold is the value of RBI's gold holdings, reported in rupees and dollars. Its value can change with prices and exchange rates, not only with buying or selling.
SDRs (Special Drawing Rights) are an international reserve asset created by the IMF.
Reserve position in the IMF is India's reserve tranche position with the IMF.
These short definitions are general background, not text from this release.
Week, financial year and year: three ways to compare
RBI gives three comparison columns. In US$ million, for total reserves:
Over the week: −2,691
Over end-March 2026: +25,949
Over the year: +27,324
This is why one headline can say "reserves fell" and another can say "reserves are higher". Both can be right, because they compare against different dates.
One detail I like to point out: gold fell US$ 12,805 million against end-March 2026, but rose US$ 865 million over the year. Same asset, different base date, different story.
What the data does not tell you
It does not explain why reserves moved. RBI's table gives no reasons. Currency moves, gold prices and RBI's own operations can all play a part, but the release does not split them out.
It is a weekly snapshot. One week's change is a small slice of a long series.
It is not a trading signal. Macro data like this is context, much like India VIX is context. Neither should drive a decision on its own.
If you follow this series, keep a simple note each Friday: the date, the total, and the three comparison columns. Over a few months, the pattern becomes far clearer than any single headline.
FAQ
What were India's forex reserves on 30 October 2026?
US$ 717,056 million (₹ 68,08,728 crore), as per Table 2 of RBI's Weekly Statistical Supplement extract dated 6 November 2026.
How much did reserves change in that week?
They fell by US$ 2,691 million over the week.
What is the largest component?
Foreign currency assets, at US$ 591,118 million.
Are reserves higher than a year ago?
Yes. RBI's year-on-year variation for total reserves is +US$ 27,324 million.
Where can I read the original table?
RBI Press Release 2026-2027/1462 dated 6 November 2026, linked in the Sources.
Sources
This article is for information and education only. It is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Figures are from RBI Press Release 2026-2027/1462 dated 6 November 2026; refer to the original for full detail. — Nishi Jain, full-time trader in Jaipur, ex-JioBlackRock. Updates: https://t.me/nishijain_com.
