Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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According to recent report, India slipped to the 7th position globally in stock market valuation, overtaken by South Korea. India’s current stock market capitalization stands at around 4.9 trillion. South Korea and Taiwan have market capitalizations of over 5 trillion, moving ahead of India. Over the last two years, India has fallen three places as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea surpassed it. Reasons cited for the decline include: continuous foreign investor selling since September 2024, muted corporate earnings and relatively slow progress in AI-driven technology sectors. currently, United States has the world’s largest stock market capitalization.

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Uzbekistan became the 10th member and shareholder of the New Development Bank (NDB) in June 2026 after ratifying the Articles of Agreement (AoA). It is the first Central Asian country to join the NDB. The NDB plans to support projects in Uzbekistan in sectors such as energy, water management, transport, municipal infrastructure, and social infrastructure. The bank will provide support through financing in national currencies, national procurement systems, and environmental risk assessment mechanisms.

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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 RBI has allowed financiers on TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System) platforms to access government-backed credit guarantee cover for financed invoices. TReDS is an RBI-regulated electronic platform that helps MSMEs obtain working capital by discounting invoices through competitive bidding. It provides collateral-free and non-recourse financing, improving liquidity for MSMEs and reducing default risk. Registration on TReDS is mandatory for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and corporate buyers with an annual turnover above ₹250 crore.

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The Union Cabinet approved an additional ₹30,000 crore investment in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). NIIF is a Government of India-backed fund created to enhance infrastructure financing in the country.
It is India’s first sovereign wealth fund (SWF). NIIF was registered with SEBI as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) in 2015. It serves as a collaborative investment platform for Indian and international investors. NIIF invests in infrastructure, private equity, and other diversified sectors, including greenfield, brownfield, and stalled projects.

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The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recently completed a nationwide database consolidation under the CITES project. The Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES) is a major digital modernization initiative of EPFO. It replaces a decentralised, fragmented legacy system with a centralised national database and automated processing system. The project is managed by EPFO under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. It has been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). CITES aims to allow any EPFO office in India to process any member’s request, removing dependency on regional offices.

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Specialised Investment Funds (SIFs) have crossed ₹13,814 crore in Assets Under Management (AUM) shortly after their introduction. Specialised Investment Funds (SIFs) is a new investment product introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). It aims to bridge the gap between mutual funds and Portfolio Management Services (PMS). The framework was introduced through amendments to the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996. SIF investment strategies are divided into Equity-oriented, Debt-oriented, and Hybrid strategies. Currently, only one strategy per category is permitted for each SIF.

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The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched the Amnesty Scheme, 2026 to provide a one-time opportunity for establishments operating exempted Provident Fund (PF) Trusts to regularise their status under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The scheme, introduced by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, will remain open for six months from 29 June 2026. The scheme provides relief by waiving certain eligibility conditions, allowing retrospective regularisation, and withdrawing pending assessments related to PF dues, damages, and interest, subject to prescribed conditions.

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The Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform, launched by the Ministry of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), are promoting the formalisation of MSMEs and strengthening India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Udyam Registration provides a free, paperless, self-declaration-based online registration for MSMEs, while the Udyam Assist Platform helps informal micro enterprises gain formal recognition. These initiatives promote inclusive growth by supporting women, SC/ST entrepreneurs, rural enterprises, artisans, start-ups, and youth entrepreneurs. As July 2026, more than 8.9 crore enterprises have been registered through the two platforms, generating employment for more than 38 crore people.

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released India’s first trial Index of Services Production (ISP). The base year for the index is 2024–25, and the first release covers April 2026. The trial ISP covers 19 service sub-sectors, representing nearly 60% of India’s formal services sector. It is developed using administrative data, including GST records, without increasing compliance burden. Accommodation & Food Services (37.2%) and Retail Trade (30.8%) recorded the highest growth. The index will be available on the e-Sankhyiki portal, with future expansion expected to cover 85–90% of the formal services sector.