By Admin 
The Indian Rupee is currently under heavy pressure and is continuously touching new record lows. On May 19, 2026, it reached the level of 96.52 against the dollar, which is the lowest level till date. At the beginning of the year 2026, the rupee was around 89, but till now it has weakened by 6-7%. There are many global and domestic reasons behind this decline. Tension between Iran and America has pushed crude oil prices above $105-107 per barrel. India imports 85% of its oil needs, hence rising oil prices have increased the import bill and the demand for dollars has increased. On the other hand, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are withdrawing money from Indian markets. So far Rs 2.65 lakh crore has been withdrawn in 2026.
In such a situation, there is only one question in everyone’s mind – will the rupee cross 100? Talking about this, many experts have given their opinion. Let us know the opinion of 5 experts, out of which 2 are in favor of the rupee crossing Rs 100, 2 are against and 1 is of neutral opinion…
In favor: These experts believe that the rupee can cross 100
Speaking to ANI, former UN advisor and economist Santosh Mehrotra said, ‘In the last three months, the rupee has fallen from below 90 to around 96 per dollar. This will have its own impact on inflation. He further warned, ‘If the current pressure continues, the rupee can very easily touch Rs 100 per dollar in the next quarter.’ His opinion strengthens the possibility of the rupee crossing Rs 100.
Currency expert K.N. Dey also does not rule out the possibility of the rupee crossing Rs 100. Speaking to ANI, he said, ‘The speed at which the rupee has fallen since May 11 has shocked the market, yet both the regulator and North Block are silent.’ He further said, ‘Since there is no bottom in sight, estimating the stability point is just a guess. Psychological slide towards 100 is also possible now. His statement explains the sudden turmoil in the market and the rapid pace of decline.
In opposition: These experts do not believe that the 100 mark is likely to be crossed any time soon.
Finance analyst and FX strategist Dheeraj Nim believes that RBI will not allow the rupee to reach the level of 100 anytime soon. Talking to a TV channel, he said, ‘We do not think that RBI will allow the rupee to go to the level of 100 at the moment.’ ANZ Research expects the rupee to end the year at 97.5 per dollar, indicating a move away from the 100 mark despite weakening from current levels.
Mitul Kotecha, Head of FX and EM Macro Strategy Asia (Barclays), told Business Standard, ‘It is not our forecast that the rupee will touch Rs 100 per dollar.’ However, he also admitted that the pace of rupee depreciation has been much faster and more shocking than he had anticipated. He said, ‘We have already crossed the levels which were earlier considered to be a forecast of recession.’ Nevertheless, he has clearly said that the level of 100 is not included in his official forecast.
Neutral: This expert does not consider controlled decline a matter of concern
Nilesh Shah, Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company, takes a balanced view on the rupee crossing Rs 100. In an interview to ANI, he said, ‘One day will we see the rupee going into three digits? There is a lot of possibility. However, his emphasis is on how this degradation occurs. He said, ‘If this is systematic depreciation, it ensures that our economy continues to compete.’ He believes that ‘rupee keeps falling against foreign currencies’ and if this happens without major changes and in an orderly manner then it is not a matter of concern, but a coordination has to be done to keep the economy competitive.
RBI’s role is important amid the fall of rupee
Whether the rupee will cross 100 or not will largely depend on oil prices and the trend of foreign investment. If tensions in West Asia ease, the rupee may come back to the level of 92-93. At the same time, RBI still has foreign exchange reserves of about 700 billion dollars, on the basis of which it can prevent excessive fluctuations in the rupee. However, if global conditions worsen further, the psychological level of 100 could become a real possibility.
At present, experts’ opinions are divided, but everyone agrees that the coming months are going to be very challenging for the Indian economy.