Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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Bank of Baroda raised ₹10,000 crore by issuing long-term green infrastructure bonds, becoming the first bank in India to issue domestic green bonds. The 7-year bond was issued on the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) through the Electronic Book Provider (EBP) platform. The issue had a ₹5,000 crore base size with a ₹5,000 crore greenshoe option, and received bids worth ₹16,415 crore, showing strong investor demand. The bank fixed a 7.1% annual coupon rate despite market volatility.

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India became the largest supplier of cotton products (apparel and home textiles) to the United States in 2025, replacing China, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). US imports of cotton products remained stable at 3.3 million tonnes, close to the 15-year average. Imports from China fell to about 0.5 million tonnes, while India exported around 0.6 million tonnes to the US. High US tariffs on China (10–125%) and diversification of supply chains reduced dependence on China. India benefits from vertically integrated textile supply chains, helping meet traceability standards. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and geopolitical risks also reduced US sourcing from China.

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Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025 results released for January–December 2025 period. It is conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO) under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The purpose is to provide inputs for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimation and National Accounts. It covers unincorporated non-agricultural sector, including manufacturing, trade, and services. Tracks key indicators like employment, Gross Value Added (GVA), wages, and digital usage. It helps in understanding the informal economy and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector.

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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.

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YES BANK has emerged as the highest-rated Indian bank in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) 2025, scoring 79/100. This achievement marks the fourth consecutive year the bank has featured in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, placing it among the top 15% of global banking leaders. The bank is included in the 2025 Sustainability Yearbook, recognizing its leadership in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. The high rating is based on performance in areas like climate strategy (net-zero commitments), financial inclusion, human capital development, and corporate governance.

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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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Saraswat Co-operative Bank Limited has become India’s largest Urban Co-operative Bank (UCB) after crossing ₹1 lakh crore total business in FY 2025–26. This milestone highlights the bank’s strong growth trajectory and leadership in the co-operative banking sector. The achievement is driven by an expanding customer base, improved services, and enhanced financial performance. It reflects the increasing importance of Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) in India’s banking ecosystem. The development underscores growing trust and efficiency in cooperative banking institutions.

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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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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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The International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook, April 2026) ranked India as the 6th largest economy in 2025–26. India’s GDP is estimated at 3.92 trillion, behind the United Kingdom (4 trillion) and Japan ($4.44 trillion). The decline in rank is statistical, not due to weak growth, as India remains one of the fastest-growing economies. The main reason is rupee depreciation, since GDP is measured in US dollar terms, reducing India’s relative size. A revision of GDP base year (2011–12 to 2022–23) also lowered nominal GDP estimates. India is projected to regain 4th position by 2027 and surpass Japan by 2028, becoming the 3rd largest economy by 2031.