Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the Power Finance Corporation withdrew its plan to issue zero-coupon bonds due to weak investor demand. Zero-coupon bonds are debt instruments that do not pay regular interest but are sold at a discount and redeemed at full face value on maturity. Also called discount bonds, they offer a lump sum payment at maturity, making their market price more volatile than regular coupon bonds. They suit both long-term and short-term investment goals and are seen as less risky since investors hold them till maturity. However, they do not provide regular income and are mainly suitable for long-term investors.

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On 15th June 2025, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal chaired a review meeting at the Tobacco Board, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The meeting assessed the progress of industrial nodes led by the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) in the state. National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) is a Government of India initiative under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It aims to develop smart industrial cities to boost manufacturing, investment, jobs, and India’s global competitiveness.

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India has become the world’s third-fastest growing country in power generation capacity over the last five years, after China and the United States, as per the International Energy Agency (IEA). Power generation in India has expanded across all sources, especially in renewable energy. A key reason is India’s strong clean energy agenda, with solar photovoltaic (PV) making up over half of its non-fossil energy investments in the past five years.

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Recently, India’s coffee exports reached $1.8 billion, marking a 125 percent rise over the last 11 years due to efforts by the Coffee Board of India. In 2014–15, exports were valued at over $800 million, rising to $1.14 billion in 2022–23 and $1.28 billion in 2023–24. Europe is the top buyer of Indian coffee, with major importers including Italy, Germany, Belgium, Middle East countries, Korea, and Japan. The main coffee-producing states are Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. India ranks seventh in global coffee production with a 3.5 percent share and fifth in exports with a 5 percent share.

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will conduct India’s first-ever Household Income Survey in 2026, as announced recently. A Technical Expert Group (TEG) led by economist Surjit Bhalla has been formed to guide survey methods, estimation techniques, and best global practices. The survey will measure household income and assess how technology adoption affects wages, aiming to fill key data gaps. Past attempts since the 1950s failed due to unreliable data, with income estimates often lower than consumption and savings combined.

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Recently, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, launched Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India’s first Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) for the maritime sector. SMFCL was earlier known as Sagarmala Development Company Limited. It was formally registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on June 19, 2025. SMFCL aims to bridge financing gaps and provide sector-specific funding to ports, shipping companies, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and maritime institutes.

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Recently, the National Sample Survey Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the Government of India Statistics (GoIStats) mobile application on Statistics Day 2025. The GoIStats app aims to build a strong data ecosystem where everyone can easily access official data anytime. It has an interactive Key Trends dashboard showing important socio-economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation, and employment through dynamic visuals.

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In July 2025, India is exploring the use of Catastrophe Bonds (Cat Bonds) to improve disaster risk financing and climate resilience. Cat Bonds are hybrid financial instruments combining features of insurance and debt. They help governments transfer risks from natural disasters like cyclones, floods, and earthquakes to global investors. If a defined disaster occurs, investors lose part or all of their principal, which is used for relief and reconstruction. If no disaster occurs during the bond term, investors get back their full principal with high interest.

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Recently, the Ambassador of Japan to India led a high-level business delegation to the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR). The visit aimed to explore strategic cooperation in semiconductors and smart city development. Dholera SIR, India’s first greenfield smart industrial city, is located in Gujarat. The city focuses on advanced manufacturing, digital governance, and sustainable urban living. It is a key part of India’s vision to boost high-tech investments, particularly in the semiconductor sector

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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, recently promoted the Trade Connect ePlatform at two major Business-to-Business (B2B) trade exhibitions. Trade Connect ePlatform is a digital initiative of Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It aims to transform international trade for Indian exporters, especially Medium, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It acts as a one-stop hub for international trade-related services and information. It connects exporters, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs with Indian Missions Abroad, Export Promotion Councils, and other government agencies.