Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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The Securities and Exchange Board of India has operationalised the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA). PaRRVA aims to enhance transparency and investor protection in financial markets. CARE Ratings Limited has been recognised as the PaRRVA agency. National Stock Exchange of India Limited will act as the PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC). The system allows entities like investment advisers and research analysts to display verified performance data. It helps investors access authentic risk-return information for better decision-making. The pilot phase began in December 2025, and full operations start from May 4, 2026.

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Assam inaugurated India’s first AI-powered “phygital” banking branch in Guwahati. The branch was launched by Slice Small Finance Bank at GS Road. The AI-enabled branch combines physical and digital banking services through self-service kiosks, paperless cash transactions, and digital onboarding. The initiative aims to strengthen financial inclusion and improve access to banking services for underserved communities and small businesses. The branch will support responsible credit, savings, and digital payment solutions.

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Reserve Bank of India constituted an 8-member expert committee named Quantum Secure and Adaptive Financial Ecosystem (Q-SAFE). The committee will study the impact of quantum technology on the financial sector and recommend measures to strengthen banking security systems. Q-SAFE will examine risks posed by quantum computing to existing cryptographic standards protecting financial transactions and digital infrastructure. The panel will review the financial sector’s cryptographic inventory using a Cryptography Bill of Materials (CBOM).

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Nirmala Sitharaman launched three major digital and cluster-based initiatives during the 37th Foundation Day celebrations of Small Industries Development Bank of India in Mumbai to strengthen the MSME ecosystem. The initiatives include SIDBI MachFin Mart for machinery access and financing, the RRB Co-Lending Portal to improve rural credit flow through Regional Rural Banks, and Modernisation of Rural Enterprises (MoRE) aimed at modernising 10,000 rural micro and artisanal enterprises between 2026 and 2029. MSMEs contribute nearly 30% to India’s GDP, 45% to manufacturing output, over 48% to exports, and provide employment to more than 11 crore people.

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India’s first flex-fuel passenger vehicle was launched by Maruti Suzuki in New Delhi. The vehicle was launched by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Flex-fuel vehicles can run on ethanol-petrol blends ranging from E20 to E100. The initiative supports cleaner mobility, energy security, reduced crude oil imports, and increased ethanol usage. The move is expected to benefit farmers, promote biofuels, and reduce vehicular emissions.

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According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), India’s economy is estimated to have grown by 7.8% in Q4 FY2025-26. India’s GDP growth for the full financial year 2025-26 is estimated at 7.7%, higher than the earlier estimate of 7.6%. Real GDP is estimated at ₹323.12 trillion in FY26, while Nominal GDP is estimated to have grown by 8.9%. Gross Value Added (GVA) grew by 7.9% in both Q4 FY26 and the full fiscal year. The Reserve Bank of India has projected 6.6% GDP growth and 5.1% inflation for FY2026-27.

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The success of Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce retailer, is partly attributed to its use of dropshipping practices, which help reduce inventory and warehousing costs while improving operational efficiency. Dropshipping is a retail business model in which sellers accept customer orders without keeping products in stock. After receiving an order, the seller purchases the product from a third-party supplier, who ships it directly to the customer. The seller acts as an intermediary between the supplier and the consumer. The model reduces costs related to warehousing, inventory management, and unsold stock.

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The Government recently announced the launch of the ₹25,016 crore Lakhanpur Coal Gasification Project at Lakhanpur in Jharsuguda district, Odisha. The Lakhanpur Project will be India’s first commercial-scale coal-to-ammonium nitrate facility, producing 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate per day. It is being developed by Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL), a joint venture of BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) and CIL (Coal India Limited). The project aims to strengthen energy security, promote import substitution, and support Atmanirbhar Bharat.

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National Payments Corporation of India launched Drunix, an open-source blockchain platform. The purpose of this is to build and scale tokenisation platforms, support digital asset ecosystems and enable multi-organisation blockchain networks. Drunix is a high-performance distributed ledger platform designed for enterprise and public infrastructure adoption. Drunix is NPCI’s second major open-source blockchain contribution after Falcon.

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Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has successfully completed the first cohort of its BHARATI programme (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Innovation). It is an initiative of APEDA. The initiative aims to promote innovation-driven growth in agri-food exports and support India’s target of USD 50 billion agri-food exports by 2030. Startups under the programme achieved early export success, including GI-tagged mangoes, millet-based products, and organic goods to global markets like the UAE, EU, USA, UK, and New Zealand. The programme strengthens India’s agri-export ecosystem through startups, technology, and value addition.