Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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Indian travelers can now use Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps to make purchases in Qatar, the eighth country to adopt UPI for international payments. Qatar Duty Free is the first merchant to accept QR code-based UPI transactions. NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), Qatar National Bank (QNB), and Japanese gateway NETSTARS enabled UPI at select point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Other countries with UPI access include Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and United Arab Emirates. The move promotes a globally interoperable payment network and cross-border digital transactions.

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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the nationwide ‘Aapki Punji Aapka Adhikar’ campaign from Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The campaign aims to ensure speedy settlement of unclaimed financial assets across banks, insurance companies, pension funds, stock, and mutual fund companies. It focuses on returning deposits to legitimate claimants and bridging the gap between financial institutions and citizens. Currently, ₹1,82,000 crore of unclaimed assets lie with financial institutions nationwide. Certificates were awarded to claimants confirming the retrieval of their unclaimed assets. The initiative promotes financial empowerment and awareness among citizens.

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Microfinance loan delinquencies rose sharply in 2024-25 according to Sa-Dhan, the microfinance self-regulatory body. Loans overdue by more than thirty days increased to six point two percent from two point one percent in 2023-24. Loans overdue by more than ninety days rose to four point eight percent from one point six percent in 2023-24. Bihar had the highest outstanding loans of fifty-seven thousand seven hundred twelve crore rupees and the worst delinquency with seven point two percent overdue by more than thirty days and four point six percent overdue by more than ninety days. Rural borrowers faced the highest repayment challenges with six point four percent loans overdue by more than thirty days and three point seven percent overdue by more than ninety days. Semi-urban and urban borrowers had slightly lower delinquency rates.

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The U.S. president recently signed a proclamation raising the annual H-1B visa fee to $100,000. This sudden hike created panic-driven demand and price rise, showing a classic case of “Fomoflation.” Fomoflation means inflation caused by Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) and market pressure. It happens when people buy excessively due to fear of scarcity, creating artificial demand. Prices then rise faster than actual economic factors justify. Unlike normal inflation from macroeconomic causes, fomoflation comes from behavioral psychology. Social media often amplifies it. For example, During festivals, fear of shortage raises prices of pulses and cooking oil even with enough supply.

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Unified Payments Interface (UPI) usage intensity is highest in Telangana, followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra, as per a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bulletin. The study used PhonePe transaction data, covering 58% of UPI volume and 53% of total transaction value, as a proxy for UPI intensity. The rise of UPI is reducing cash demand, reflected in declining ATM cash withdrawals as a percentage of GDP. Most peer-to-merchant (P2M) transactions are low-value, under ₹500, and the average ticket size is decreasing. High UPI usage is linked to urban centres, economic hubs, and migration-driven employment.

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The Sevilla Forum on Debt was launched on October 22, 2025, at the 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) in Geneva. It is a Spanish-led initiative supported by UNCTAD and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Forum provides an open, inclusive platform for dialogue and action on sovereign debt reform. The Forum stems from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and aligns with the Sevilla Platform for Action and Sevilla Commitment. Spain will host the Forum as a bridge between borrowers and creditors, tracking implementation of debt initiatives. Global debt reached 102 trillion in 2024; developing countries owe 31 trillion and pay $921 billion in interest

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched HaRBInger 2025 – Innovation for Transformation, its fourth global hackathon. It aims to use emerging technologies to create innovative, secure, and user-friendly financial solutions. The main goal is to protect customer identity and build trust in the financial system. The theme for HaRBInger 2025 is “Secure Banking: Powered by Identity, Integrity, and Inclusivity.”

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Recently, Japan launched the world’s first yen-pegged stablecoin, named JPYC, marking a major step in digital finance. It is issued by the startup JPYC and is fully backed by Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) and domestic savings. The coin is fully convertible to the yen and aims for widespread international use. JPYC plans to issue 10 trillion yen ($66 billion) worth of coins in three years. The aim is to promote innovation and reduce transaction costs for startups. Blockchain-based stablecoins enable faster, cheaper, and secure transactions. Dollar-pegged stablecoins currently dominate 99% of global supply, but Japan seeks diversification

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In October 2025, the SBI Foundation, along with University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and Agribridge, launched the SMART-CROP project in Hyderabad, Telangana. The project stands for Sustainable Monitoring and Real-time Tracking for Crop Resilience and Optimal Practices. It is a three-year initiative supported under SBI Foundation’s LEAP (Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme). The project aims to enhance resilience and productivity of over 8,000 smallholder farmers in Karnataka and Telangana. It uses satellite imaging, remote sensing, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) for real-time crop stress monitoring to prevent climate, pest, and soil-related risks.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 2024-25 census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) on October 29, 2025. The census covered Indian entities’ cross-border assets and liabilities. Out of 45,702 entities, 41,517 reported Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) in their March 2025 balance sheets. The United States and Singapore together contributed over one-third of India’s total FDI. Other major contributors were Mauritius, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Total FDI stood at ₹68.76 lakh crore, higher than ₹61.88 lakh crore in 2023–24. The share of FDI was 20 percent from the United States, 14.3 percent from Singapore, 13.3 percent from Mauritius, 11.2 percent from the United Kingdom, and 9 percent from the Netherlands.