Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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The National Statistics Office under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation launched the first-ever Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) in April 2026. The survey covers all States and Union Territories with reference period FY 2024–25 and aims to build a comprehensive database of the incorporated services sector. It uses the GSTN database as the sampling frame and will survey around 1.21 lakh enterprises. ASISSE focuses on corporate entities registered under the Companies Act (1956/2013) and the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. It covers key service sectors such as trade, transport, hospitality, IT, education, and health, which together form a major part of India’s economy.

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The Reserve Bank of India has launched a pilot Benchmark Issuance Strategy (BIS) to streamline state government borrowings starting from FY 2026–27. The strategy will be implemented across nine states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. Under this strategy, states will issue State Development Loans in predefined benchmark tenor buckets based on a pre-announced borrowing calendar. The BIS aims to bring greater structure, predictability, and standardisation to state borrowings in the debt market.

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India has limited the requirement of certification from the Export Inspection Council (EIC) for rice exports only to select countries—European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The Export Inspection Council was established under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963. It ensures quality and safety of Indian export products to meet importing country standards. It functions as India’s official export certification authority. The Council operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which is its nodal ministry.

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Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone announced that Mundra Port has become India’s largest automobile export hub, exporting a record 6,008 cars in a single vessel. Mundra Port exports vehicles to more than 100 countries through its Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) terminal, enabling efficient large-scale shipments. India’s automobile exports are rising steadily, with key markets in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. The port plays a crucial role in strengthening logistics infrastructure and export competitiveness of Indian automakers.

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Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has completed 10 years, transforming India into a real-time digital payment economy. The network expanded from 216 banks in 2021 to 691 banks by January 2026, creating a highly interoperable payment ecosystem. It has expanded internationally, being operational or linked with countries like UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius, and Qatar. It is operated by the National Payments Corporation of India, which regulates and manages retail payment systems in India.

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India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood at 1.64% in March 2026, as per provisional government data. The data was released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. On a month-on-month basis, WPI declined by 0.06%, indicating easing price pressures. Primary articles index stood at 197.3, showing mixed trends with a monthly decline but positive year-on-year growth. WPI reflects producer-level price changes, indicating supply-side inflation in the economy. The index is compiled using data from institutional sources and manufacturing units across India. WPI data is released monthly (around 14th), with April 2026 data scheduled for May 14, 2026.

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China has become India’s largest trading partner in 2025–26, surpassing the United States after four years. India–China bilateral trade reached 151.1 billion, with a record trade deficit of about 112 billion in China’s favour. India’s exports to China rose by 36.66% to 19.47 billion, while imports increased to 131.63 billion, widening the deficit. With the United States, India’s exports grew marginally to 87.3 billion, while imports rose to 52.9 billion, reducing the trade surplus. India recorded negative export growth with partners like Netherlands, UK, Singapore, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia. Positive export growth was seen with UAE, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Spain, and Vietnam.

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ITC Limited became the first Indian company to receive the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) 3.0 certification. The certification is developed by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform. It validates sustainable, traceable, and ethically sourced farming practices for wheat and paddy. The initiative covers more than 22,000 acres and 3,500 farmers across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar through 70+ Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). It promotes soil health, efficient resource use, and higher farmer incomes.

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In April 2026, Pay Point India Network became the first private fintech company to gain membership in the Centralised Payment System (CPS) of the Reserve Bank of India. Earlier, CPS access was limited to banks and institutions like National Payments Corporation of India and Clearing Corporation of India Limited. This move allows Pay Point direct access to payment systems such as Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT). It reduces dependence on partner banks for transactions and settlements. The company has also been assigned its own Indian Financial System Code (IFSC), enabling it to hold accounts directly with RBI.

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Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched Mission Jagrook on April 25, 2026. It is a nationwide investor awareness initiative launched in collaboration with Securities and Exchange Board of India. The launch took place during the 38th Foundation Day of SEBI in Mumbai. The mission aims to educate retail investors about market risks and financial frauds, including AI-based deepfakes. It promotes financial literacy and safe investment practices among the public