Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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On 25 September 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India’s first fleet of electric heavy trucks with swappable batteries at Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Maharashtra. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) now has the largest electric vehicle (EV) truck fleet at any Indian port. 50 electric heavy trucks were launched, with expansion to 80 by year-end. A heavy-duty battery swapping station was commissioned for operations. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) ranks in the World Bank’s Top 25 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI). The launch marks a major step towards sustainable and green logistics in India.

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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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India has launched an anti-dumping investigation on imports of Ethambutol Hydrochloride from China and Thailand. The probe is conducted by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The investigation follows an application by Lupin, India’s only domestic producer of the drug. Ethambutol Hydrochloride is used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis as part of combination therapy to prevent drug resistance.

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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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Around 10 Indian marine and saline fish and shrimp varieties are soon to receive the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification is an international non-profit organisation that sets science-based standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability. Its certification recognises and rewards sustainable fishing practices to promote a sustainable seafood market. The certification is based on independent third-party assessments focusing on stock health, environmental impact, and effective management. It is voluntary, open to all fisheries regardless of location, size, or fishing gear. Astamudi clam (Paphia malabarica) was India’s first MSC-certified fishery.

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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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DBS Bank has been named “Safest Bank in Asia 2025”, marking its 17th consecutive year receiving this recognition. The bank also retained 2nd position in the World’s 50 Safest Commercial Banks list. Rankings are based on long-term foreign currency ratings from Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s of the 500 largest global banks. DBS’ recognition reflects solid financial performance, strong risk management, governance, and a robust balance sheet. In turbulent economic conditions—tariffs, interest rate changes, and technological disruptions—DBS provides stability and trust to customers.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will exempt the government-backed SWAMIH Fund from tightened rules for Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs). SWAMIH stands for Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing and was set up in 2019 to rescue stressed real estate projects. The fund provides debt financing for stalled housing projects and is managed by SBICAP Ventures Ltd, a State Bank of India (SBI) Group company. The fund is sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

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State Bank of India (SBI) received two awards from Global Finance, New York at the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings 2025: World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 and Best Bank in India 2025. The recognition highlights SBI’s commitment to innovation, financial inclusion, and customer excellence. SBI serves 520 million customers, adding 65,000 new customers daily. Its digital-first strategy includes the YONO platform, with over 9.04 crore registered users and 10 million daily active users. SBI is the largest commercial bank in India by assets, deposits, branches, and customers.

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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