Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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The Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC India) demanded lower income tax for non-corporate manufacturing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and faster Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds in the Union Budget. EEPC India is the premier trade and investment promotion body for India’s engineering sector. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and advises the Government of India. It acts as an interface between the engineering industry and the government.

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Data under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Liberalised Remittances Scheme (LRS) shows outward remittances by Indians fell to a two-year low of 1.94 billion US dollars in November 2025 due to reduced spending on foreign studies. Liberalised Remittances Scheme (LRS) operates under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999 to regulate outward remittances. It allows resident individuals, including minors, to remit up to 250,000 US dollars per financial year without prior approval. The scheme was introduced in 2004 and applies only to individuals, not companies or Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs).

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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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Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (Startup India FoF 2.0). The Fund has been launched under the Startup India initiative to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. It aims to accelerate the next phase of India’s startup ecosystem by mobilising long-term domestic capital, strengthening the venture capital framework, and supporting innovation-led enterprises. The scheme adopts a targeted and segmented funding approach to support deep-tech and technology-driven innovative manufacturing sectors that require patient and long-term capital investment.

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The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), Government of India, held the fifth National MSME Council meeting in New Delhi to review the World Bank–supported RAMP Programme. The RAMP Programme, Raising & Accelerating MSME Performance, was launched in 2022. It is implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises over 2022–23 to 2026–27 with assistance from the World Bank. It aims to improve access to market and credit for MSMEs. It strengthens institutions and governance at the central and state levels.

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National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Limited became the first mining company in India to produce 50 million tonnes of iron ore in a single financial year (2025–26). NMDC Limited is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Steel. It is the largest producer of iron ore in India and a key organisation for mineral resource development. Its aim is to explore, develop, and sustainably use mineral resources in India. It also ensures stable domestic supply of iron ore for the steel industry. NMDC supports India’s goal to expand steel production capacity to 300 million tonnes by 2030.

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PRARAMBH 2026 (Policy Reform and Responsible Action for Mission Viksit Bharat) was launched by the Ministry of Finance as a nationwide awareness campaign on the Income Tax Act, 2025. The initiative aims to familiarise citizens with provisions of the new tax law, which will come into effect from 1 April 2026, through a multi-channel outreach including print, TV, radio, digital and social media. It offers taxpayer-centric resources such as guidance notes, brochures, tutorial videos, FAQs, and public engagement activities like the MyGov Quiz. The campaign adopts a multilingual approach, with materials released in 10 regional languages along with English and Hindi for wider accessibility.

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Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises implements MSE-CDP (Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme) to improve productivity and competitiveness of MSEs (Micro and Small Enterprises). The scheme provides financial assistance to set up Common Facility Centres (CFCs) and upgrade infrastructure in industrial clusters. It is a demand-driven scheme with proposals from States and Union Territories based on needs. 242 CFCs have been approved across India including 6 in Punjab, while 513 clusters approved under SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries) since 2015–16.

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The Union Minister highlighted 10 years of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and its role in ensuring quality and standardisation in India. BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) is the national standards body, established under the BIS Act, 2016. Earlier, it functioned under the BIS Act, 1986, evolved from the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), 1947. The headquarter is located in New Delhi.