New Delhi, Aug. 29 -- India's foreign-exchange reserves climbed to a record high as dollar inflows surged after recent measures by the central bank to attract capital.

The Reserve Bank of India's forex reserves gained by $12.4 billion to an all-time high of $729.3 billion in the week of 21 August, according to data released by the central bank on Friday. That surpasses the previous high of $728.5 billion in February.

Steps taken by RBI in early June, including a special deposit program for overseas citizens, have garnered $72.8 billion of inflows through 21 August. That's helped avert what could have been an unprecedented third year of a deficit in India's broadest measure of money flowing in and out of the economy.

The boost to forex ...