Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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A United Nations (UN) report projects India’s GDP growth at 6.6% in 2026, while global growth is expected to slow to 2.7% due to geopolitical risks and policy uncertainty. The report notes that strong demand in major markets may partially offset the impact of US tariff hikes on India. The UN lowered India’s growth estimate from 7.4% but it aligns with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast, identifying India as the only major economy expected to grow above 6% in 2025–26. Global growth faces risks of a prolonged slowdown, insufficient for broad-based development, leaving many countries and communities behind.

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Tripura Gramin Bank became the first Gramin Bank in India to introduce a solar-powered ATM van, promoting sustainable and inclusive banking. The initiative earned the bank the prestigious SKOCH Silver Award for innovative governance practices. The bank operates around 150 branches across remote areas of Tripura, supporting financial inclusion. The solar-powered ATM van improves banking access in rural and electricity-scarce regions. The initiative was inaugurated by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 21 July 2023. The bank currently runs three such eco-friendly ATM vans.

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India’s eight core infrastructure industries grew 3.7% in December 2025, driven by higher production of cement, steel, coal, electricity, and fertilisers. The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) rose to 175.7 points from 169.4 points in December 2024. Core industries include coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity, accounting for 40.27% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

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The World Economic Forum (WEF) is establishing five new Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including one in Andhra Pradesh, India. India already has two such centres: in Mumbai and Telangana. The Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, launched in 2017, connects national and thematic centres worldwide to advance responsible development of emerging technologies. Other new centres will be in France, the U.K., and the UAE.

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The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has constituted the Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG) Committee to modernise the investment framework of the National Pension System (NPS). It is a high-level committee of investment experts tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms for both government and non-government NPS sectors. The objective is to strengthen the long-term investment architecture of NPS through better diversification, improved risk management, and expanded investment choices for subscribers.

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the PAIMANA portal for monitoring major infrastructure projects. PAIMANA stands for Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring and Analytics for Nation-building. It is a flagship digital initiative to track Central Sector Infrastructure Projects costing ₹150 crore and above. The portal acts as a centralized national repository for infrastructure project data. It improves data accuracy, transparency, and operational efficiency through web-based reporting.

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State Bank of India launched CHAKRA, meaning Centre of Excellence, to finance sunrise sectors vital for India’s economic growth. It will act as a knowledge-based platform supporting technology-driven and sustainable industries. CHAKRA focuses on renewables, data centres, electric mobility, batteries, semiconductors, green hydrogen, decarbonization, and smart infrastructure. The centre aims to boost investments, global value chain integration, and Net Zero targets. It will promote technology and Artificial Intelligence innovation and provide advisory support. CHAKRA will collaborate with policymakers, banks, industry, startups, and global institutions.

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The Finance Minister announced SHE-Mart to support women entrepreneurs through a new market platform. SHE stands for Self-help Entrepreneur, and these marts will be community-owned retail outlets. They will be set up within cluster-level federations using innovative and enhanced financing tools. The aim is to give women better market access, branding support, and stable income. It will strengthen grassroots institutions like Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The initiative builds on the success of the Lakhpati Didi programme.

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Union Budget 2026–27 announced the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative to strengthen traditional rural industries. It focuses on khadi, handloom, and handicrafts sectors across India. The initiative aims to improve global market access, branding, and strong market linkages. It seeks to make traditional industries more competitive and economically sustainable. The programme ensures stable livelihoods for artisans and weavers. It targets weavers, village industries, rural youth, and beneficiaries of One District One Product (ODOP).

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Kotak Mahindra Bank became the first custodian in India to issue a Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) licence using only electronic signatures. It also completed the entire FPI account-opening process digitally, without any physical documents. The bank has already issued two FPI licences fully based on digitally signed papers. This marks a major step towards fully digital onboarding for overseas investors in India. The move follows the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) operationalising a unified digital workflow in January 2026. The initiative improves ease of doing business, speeds up compliance, and enhances transparency for foreign investors.