MUMBAI, April 5 Reuters The Indian central bank39;s key interest rate was kept unchanged for a seventh straight policy meeting on Friday as growth in the economy is expected to remain robust while inflation stays above the 4 target.

The sixmember monetary policy committee kept the main lending rate at 6.5, in line with expectations. The repo rate was raised by a total of 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023.

Robust growth prospects provide the policy space to remain focused on inflation and ensure its descent to the target of 4, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said in his prepared statement.

Monetary policy must remain actively disinflationary at this stage, Das said.

Five out of six members of the rate setting committee voted in favour of the rate decision while the monetary policy stance of 39;withdrawal of accommodation39; was retained with a majority of five votes.

Das flagged that food price volatility remains a concern, although core inflation has fallen sharply in recent months to below 4.

While low core inflation provides comfort, the uncertainty on food inflation remains a worry, said Upasna Bhardwaj, chief economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank.

We do not see much scope for any rate easing until the second quarter of 202425, she said, referring to the JulySeptember quarter this year.

The status quo policy left markets unmoved.

The Indian rupee gained slightly against the U.S. dollar at 83.4050, just above a record low hit on Thursday, while…