Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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The Union Finance Minister recently chaired the 6th meeting of the Governing Council of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in New Delhi to review fund performance, strategic partnerships, and new fund launches. The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is a government-anchored investment platform that mobilizes long-term capital for infrastructure and key sectors in India. NIIF was announced in the Union Budget 2015–16 and established in 2015. Its headquarters is in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

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Recently, the Power Finance Corporation withdrew its plan to issue zero-coupon bonds due to weak investor demand. Zero-coupon bonds are debt instruments that do not pay regular interest but are sold at a discount and redeemed at full face value on maturity. Also called discount bonds, they offer a lump sum payment at maturity, making their market price more volatile than regular coupon bonds. They suit both long-term and short-term investment goals and are seen as less risky since investors hold them till maturity. However, they do not provide regular income and are mainly suitable for long-term investors.

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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) resolved 4,493 investor complaints in May 2025 through its online platform SCORES. The SCORES (Sebi Complaints Redress System) portal is an online platform launched by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) to address investor grievances related to the securities market. Under the updated SCORES 2.0, complaints are sent directly to listed companies or SEBI-registered intermediaries who must respond with an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 21 days.

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India has the fourth highest potential globally to generate solar power from abandoned coal mines, according to the Global Energy Monitor (GEM). Telangana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are among the top 20 global regions with the highest land availability from closed mines and could together generate over 22 GW. Abandoned coal mines pose risks like methane leakage, which has 28 times more warming potential than carbon dioxide, and can lead to environmental damage and fatal accidents.

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India has become the world’s third-fastest growing country in power generation capacity over the last five years, after China and the United States, as per the International Energy Agency (IEA). Power generation in India has expanded across all sources, especially in renewable energy. A key reason is India’s strong clean energy agenda, with solar photovoltaic (PV) making up over half of its non-fossil energy investments in the past five years.

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Recently, Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) announced plans to set up its first overseas nano fertiliser plant in Brazil. IFFCO had earlier launched the world’s first Nano Liquid Urea in 2021 and Nano Di-Ammonium Phosphate (Nano-DAP) in 2023. Nano fertilizers are plant nutrients enclosed in nanomaterials that are 100 nanometres or smaller in size. These fertilizers allow controlled release and slow diffusion of nutrients into the soil.

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Recently, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, launched Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India’s first Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) for the maritime sector. SMFCL was earlier known as Sagarmala Development Company Limited. It was formally registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on June 19, 2025. SMFCL aims to bridge financing gaps and provide sector-specific funding to ports, shipping companies, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and maritime institutes.

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Recently, India sent its first-ever consignment of one metric tonne of rose-scented litchis to Qatar from Pathankot, Punjab. The Commerce Ministry called this a big achievement showing India’s strength in the global fresh fruit market. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), with the Punjab Government and local farmers, supported this effort. Litchis, from the Sapindaceae family, are juicy fruits with sweet edible flesh, introduced to India from China over 300 years ago.

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From July 16, 2025, the central government made it mandatory for departments and ministries to process payments above ₹75 crore via the e-Kuber system. The aim is to increase transparency and speed up fund reconciliation. This move will help provide real-time data on government spending and improve tracking of payments to vendors and contractors. E-Kuber is the Core Banking Solution (CBS) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), launched in 2012. It enables commercial banks to access their RBI accounts anytime and from anywhere.

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In July 2025, India is exploring the use of Catastrophe Bonds (Cat Bonds) to improve disaster risk financing and climate resilience. Cat Bonds are hybrid financial instruments combining features of insurance and debt. They help governments transfer risks from natural disasters like cyclones, floods, and earthquakes to global investors. If a defined disaster occurs, investors lose part or all of their principal, which is used for relief and reconstruction. If no disaster occurs during the bond term, investors get back their full principal with high interest.