RBI vs. SBI: Plagiarism Allegations Ignite Debate on Research Ethics

A significant dispute has erupted on social media between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the State Bank of India (SBI). An RBI official accused SBI’s Ecowrap reports of plagiarizing data and analysis from RBI’s publications without proper attribution. SBI, however, vehemently denied the charges, asserting its use of publicly available data and correct sourcing, thus igniting a crucial debate on research integrity.

A rare public spat has unfolded on social media, pitting India’s two financial behemoths, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the State Bank of India (SBI), against each other over allegations of research impropriety. The controversy began when Sarthak Gulati, an Assistant General Manager in RBI’s Monetary Policy Wing, took to LinkedIn, accusing SBI’s widely-read Ecowrap reports of plagiarism.

Gulati’s post specifically claimed that SBI’s Ecowrap reports for July and October 2025 had copied “data, charts, and analysis” verbatim from RBI’s Monetary Policy Report, notably without proper credit. Emphasizing the bedrock principles of originality and integrity in economic and financial research, Gulati highlighted the potential damage such actions could inflict on the credibility of research and institutions. His use of hashtags like #ResearchIntegrity underscored the gravity of his concerns.

In a swift response, Dr. Tapas Parida, a member of SBI’s Ecowrap team, issued a robust defense, completely refuting the allegations. Parida clarified that SBI’s reports utilized data “publicly available from government sources (MOSPI)” and that RBI was indeed cited as a source. He asserted that their work involved updating existing data rather than replicating others’ efforts, framing the exchange as a “healthy dialogue” rather than an act of plagiarism.

This high-profile disagreement between two pivotal financial entities underscores the critical importance of research ethics, transparency, and accountability within the economic analysis community. While social media skirmishes are common, this particular exchange serves as a significant reminder for all institutions about the rigorous standards expected in academic and policy research, ensuring trust and credibility in published findings.