One of the key developments of 2023 was the RBI applying the brakes on unsecured and small-ticket loans by raising the risk weights. This has been seen as the central bank proactively managing the excess growth of small loans before asset quality worsens in this category.
The RBI has said that while a closely linked financial system is efficient and desirable, such links must be monitored as they can also become sources of stress at best and of instability at worst.
Capital allocation may not necessarily become more prudent due to risk weight changes. Commercial compulsions may force lenders to reduce potential lending in less risky segments even as they meet increased capital requirements due to hike in risk weights of a specific loan segment