Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

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The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways launched the One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP). ONOP aims to standardize port operations across India’s major ports. The initiative removes inconsistencies in documentation, reduces inefficiencies, lowers costs, and minimizes delays. The Ministry reduced container operation documents by 33%, from 143 to 96. Bulk cargo documents were cut by 29%, from 150 to 106.

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Yes Bank was the only Indian bank to be included in the 2025 S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, which recognizes the top 15% of global banking leaders. Yes Bank was also the highest-rated bank in India for sustainability for the third year in a row. Yes Bank scored 72 out of 100 on the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA).

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Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched a centralized database portal for corporate bonds called Bond Central. It serves as a single, authentic source of information on corporate bonds in India. It is developed by the Online Bond Platform Providers Association (OBPP Association) with collaboration from Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) like stock exchanges and depositories. The portal is free to access and acts as an information repository for the public. It aims to enhance transparency and help investors make informed decisions.

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The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs announced the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3). It is a global alliance promoting city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships. The announcement was made at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Jaipur. C-3 aims to boost resource efficiency and support a low-carbon economy. It will enhance cooperation among policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers. The initiative focuses on building a sustainable future through circular economy principles.

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Microsoft has launched a new AI assistant called Dragon Copilot for healthcare. It is part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare and helps doctors with clinical documentation. It transcribes clinical notes, drafts paperwork, and searches medical sources. It integrates with Dragon Medical One (DMO) and DAX for speech recognition. It allows voice-to-text transcription, AI-generated notes, and medical searches. It automates tasks like referral letters, visit summaries, and clinical evidence documentation.

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In March 2025, scientists in France discovered a massive, naturally occurring white hydrogen deposit in the Moselle region, estimated to be worth $92 trillion and containing 46 million tons of hydrogen, potentially revolutionizing the clean energy sector. White hydrogen is naturally occurring, formed by geochemical reactions in hard rock, similar to oil and gas. It is small, light, and escapes cap rocks easily, making extraction a challenge. The industry is nascent, with only a few innovators exploring its potential. This discovery could have a significant impact on the global energy transition, potentially helping countries reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and transition to cleaner energy sources.

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Trade Ministry recommends a 12% duty on steel imports to address trade diversion concerns. Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) was established on May 17, 2018, replacing the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties. It operates under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. DGTR ensures fair trade by investigating dumping, subsidies, and import surges. It conducts anti-dumping and anti-subsidy (Countervailing Duty – CVD) investigations. It examines safeguard measures, manages litigation, and engages with WTO on trade issues. DGTR also runs outreach programs to raise awareness about trade remedies.

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In 2024–25, the United States (US) remained India’s largest trading partner for the fourth year in a row. Bilateral trade between India and the US reached $131.84 billion. China continued as India’s second-largest trading partner, with trade rising to $127.7 billion. India’s trade deficit with China increased sharply to $99.2 billion, marking a 17% rise from the previous year. China was India’s top trading partner from 2013–14 to 2017–18 and again in 2020–21. Since 2021–22, the US has consistently held the top position in India’s global trade rankings.

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India has become the third-largest vehicle manufacturer in the world as per Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. This was highlighted at the 4th International Bioenergy Biofuels Biomass (BBB) Summit and Expo on Bioenergy Value Chain held in New Delhi. The growing demand for various types of vehicles is increasing fossil fuel consumption. There is a strong push to reduce fuel imports and increase exports to strengthen the economy. The summit also focused on promoting technologies that use the country’s biomass resources for energy.

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Bhutan recently launched the world’s first national-level cryptocurrency tourism payment system in partnership with Binance Pay and DrukPay Kunzang Bank (DK Bank). Tourists can now use their Binance accounts to pay for services like airfares, visas, hotels, and even local fruits using cryptocurrencies. The system is built into the Binance app and supports over 100 digital currencies, including Binance Coin (BNB), Bitcoin (BTC), and USD Coin (USDC). Payments are made in real-time using QR codes, and settlements are done instantly in Bhutanese currency through DK Bank. This helps local artisans and small businesses, especially in remote areas, accept digital payments easily and boosts financial inclusion.