Mumbai, June 1 -- India's central bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged despite a sharp depreciation in the rupee and repeated fuel price hikes following the West Asia conflict.

A Mint poll of 10 economists suggests that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to maintain the policy repo rate at 5.25% this week. The repo (repurchase) rate is the rate at which the central bank lends money to commercial banks for short-term requirements, typically against government securities as collateral.

The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to announce its policy decision after its 3-5 June meeting. The central bank is also expected to maintain its 'neutral' stance, which allows it to raise or cut rates even as it grapp...