Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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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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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.

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The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) has recently opened its new Bengaluru Centre. IIP is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It was established in 1966 with its headquarters in Mumbai. Its main goal is to boost exports through innovative package design and improved packaging standards. It provides testing, consultancy, R&D, and training in packaging. Training is given to artisans, weavers, exporters, and stakeholders for modern and aesthetic packaging.

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The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has officially declared the Digital Dirham as full legal tender in 2025. The new law makes the Digital Dirham equal to physical cash, with mandatory acceptance for all payments and debt settlements. It is issued under the authority of the UAE Federal Government, marking a major step in strengthening the UAE’s digital economy leadership. The Digital Dirham is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), fully backed, regulated, and secured by the CBUAE. It offers a safe, low-risk alternative to commercial bank money and private digital assets.

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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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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced interlinking the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with fast payment systems of other countries to improve cross-border payments. This move supports the G20 Roadmap to make international remittances cheaper, faster, transparent and easier. RBI and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) are working with the European Central Bank to link UPI with TIPS (TARGET Instant Payment Settlement), the Eurosystem’s instant payment platform. The UPI–TIPS link will enable cross-border money transfers between India and the European Union, benefiting users on both sides.

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Amaravati is set to become India’s first integrated Financial City, boosting national economic infrastructure. The Financial City will bring major public sector banks and financial institutions into one planned hub. Finance Minister Sitharaman and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stones for several nationalised banks and financial institutions in Amaravati. The project will create over 6,500 direct jobs and accelerate Andhra Pradesh’s economic revival.