New Delhi, Oct 20 (PTI) The Finance Ministry today expressed hope that the Reserve Bank in its monetary policy review next week will continue the current soft policy stance.

"We hope it (RBI) continues," Finance Secreaty Ashok Chawla told reporters when asked whether RBI will continue its soft monetary stance.

Ahead of the monetary policy review, RBI Governor D Subbarao is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on October 23.

Though there are inflationary pressures on the economy because of rising food prices, economists believe that the apex bank will maintain its status quo on monetary policy.

Soft monetary policy expected as government signals preference for maintaining an accommodative central bank stance despite inflationary pressure. Finance Ministry urged continuation of the current soft monetary policy ahead of the central bank's policy review, expressing expectation that the bank would maintain its accommodative stance despite noted food-driven inflationary pressures, and highlighted upcoming consultations between senior government and central bank officials prior to the review.