Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, India’s electronics sector gained momentum through the Electronics Development Fund (EDF) launched on 15 February 2016. EDF promotes innovation in electronics, nano-electronics, and Information Technology (IT). It works as a Fund of Funds, investing in Daughter Funds like angel and venture funds that support technology startups. Electronics Development Fund’s (EDF’s) anchor investor is Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

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The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) showed overall unemployment for 15+ years stayed at 5.2% in October 2025. Urban unemployment rose to a three-month high of 7%, while rural unemployment dipped from 4.6% to 4.4%. Female unemployment fell slightly to 5.4%, driven by a rural decline from 4.3% to 4%. Male unemployment stayed stable at 5.1%, with rural dip offset by urban rise to 6.1%. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) reached a six-month high of 55.4%, rising from 54.2% in June. Female workforce participation (LFPR 34.2%) and rural worker growth drove the increase in Worker Population Ratio (WPR 52.5%).

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation launched the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 during the 75th anniversary of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in Udaipur. NIC-2025 is a new six-digit system replacing the five-digit NIC-2008 to classify all economic activities in India. It updates earlier versions from 1962 to reflect India’s changing economy and aligns with the United Nations International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) Revision-5. It adds new sectors like cloud services, blockchain, renewable energy, waste management, platform services, and AYUSH. It also includes new classes for logistics, real estate, food services, and environmental remediation.

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SEBI introduced SWAGAT-FI (Single Window Automatic & Generalised Access for Trusted Foreign Investors) to simplify Indian securities market access for low-risk foreign investors. It provides a unified registration for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and Foreign Venture Capital Investors (FVCIs), reducing repeated compliance and documentation. Low-risk investors include government-owned funds, central banks, sovereign wealth funds, regulated public retail funds, insurance companies, and pension funds. SWAGAT-FIs can invest in listed equities and debt as FPIs, and unlisted companies and startups as FVCIs.

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Fino Payments Bank became the first payments bank to receive in-principle approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to convert into a Small Finance Bank (SFB). This approval allows Fino to accept larger deposits and offer loans and credit to individuals and small businesses. Fino applied under RBI’s “on tap” licensing guidelines for private sector SFBs. Payments banks can apply for SFB status after completing five years of operations and meeting regulatory norms. Fino started as a payments bank in 2017 and applied nearly two years ago for conversion. Fino plans to start lending within one year after approval. It serves over 16 million customers through more than 2 million merchants.

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Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA) to improve transparency in financial markets. PaRRVA is a new system to verify and authenticate past performance claims made by regulated market intermediaries. It was launched on a pilot basis by Care Ratings in collaboration with National Stock Exchange (NSE). It applies to SEBI-registered Investment Advisers, Research Analysts, and Algorithmic (Algo) Stock Brokers.

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IIT Bombay’s Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) has launched India’s first incubator-linked deep-tech venture capital fund, named the Y-Point Venture Capital Fund, with a total corpus of ₹250 crore. The fund aims to provide early-stage risk capital to India’s deep-tech startups, especially those emerging from IIT Bombay and other top research institutions across the country. It will invest in pre-seed and seed-stage companies, helping them translate cutting-edge research into commercially viable technologies. The fund plans to support 25–30 startups, offering investments of up to ₹15 crore to each selected company.

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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) stopped possible losses of ₹660 crore in six months. Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) was launched in May 2025 by the Department of Telecommunications (DOT’S) Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU). It is a risk-based system that marks mobile numbers as Medium, High, or Very High fraud risk. The classification uses data from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), Chakshu platform, banks, and financial institutions. It helps banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) providers protect customers.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved emergency funding of 206 million United States Dollars (USD) for Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah. The support is given under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI). The Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) is a fast-acting financial aid program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It provides quick financial help to IMF member countries facing urgent balance of payments problems. It operates under the General Resources Account (GRA) of the IMF. The Regular Window supports crises from instability or external shocks, allowing up to 50 percent of quota yearly.

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The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) India–NCB Carbon Uptake Report was released on the 63rd Foundation Day of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB). NCB was established in 1962 as India’s apex research and development organisation for the cement and building materials sector. Its main objective is to promote scientific research and innovation related to cement manufacturing and building materials. NCB functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.