The present invention discloses a method for indicating pilot state, a radio network controller. The method includes: acquiring, by an RNC, state information of a scheduled non-precoded pilot, where the state information of the scheduled non-precoded pilot indicates activated state or deactivated state of the scheduled non-precoded pilot; and sending, by the RNC, 4Tx MIMO mode configuration signaling to a UE, where the configuration signaling carries the state information of the scheduled non-precoded pilot, so that the UE acquires state of the scheduled non-precoded pilot according to the state information of the scheduled non-precoded pilot when being configured to 4Tx MIMO mode. The method for indicating pilot state and the radio network controller according to embodiments of the present invention can reduce physical-layer signaling overheads and reduce a delay in acquiring state of a scheduled non-precoded pilot by the UE in 4Tx MIMO mode.