Business, Economy & Banking Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated India’s first bamboo-based ethanol plant in Golaghat district, Assam. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a modern polypropylene plant in the same district. The bamboo-based bioethanol plant aims to boost industrial growth, green energy, renewable power, and create opportunities for farmers and youth. A steady supply of bamboo will be ensured with government support for local farmers in cultivation and procurement. Bamboo, previously restricted, is now allowed for industrial use, benefiting tribal communities in Northeast India.

Notes:
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), with a corpus over ₹25 lakh crore, announced Shri Vivekanand Gupta, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, selected for the Public Financial Asset Management (PFAM) Program 2025–26. PFAM is a prestigious initiative jointly organised by the World Bank and Milken Institute. Shri Gupta is the first-ever participant from EPFO and the sole representative from India. Selection was made by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS) through an internal nomination process. PFAM, hosted at Bayes Business School, City, University of London, trains senior professionals in capital markets, governance, and strategic asset management.

Notes:
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched SWAGAT-FI on September 16, 2025. SWAGAT-FI stands for Simplified Wrapper Framework for Facilitating Access to GIFT-IFSC for Foreign Investors. The framework targets low-risk foreign investors like sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and long-term institutional investors. Eligible investors can now register for 10 years, up from the earlier 3-year cycle, reducing administrative hurdles. A digital portal allows onboarding in about a week, using a single demat account to manage all investments. It integrates with Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC) for easier global access.

Notes:
On the decade-long celebrations of “Make in India,” the Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 3.0 was launched in New Delhi. Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 3.0 is developed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The initiative aims to strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem and enhance competitiveness of industrial infrastructure. The system assesses and benchmarks facilities, infrastructure, and performance of industrial parks across India. IPRS 3.0 provides stakeholders with reliable data, encourages best practices, and supports world-class infrastructure creation.

Notes:
On 25 September 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India’s first fleet of electric heavy trucks with swappable batteries at Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Maharashtra. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) now has the largest electric vehicle (EV) truck fleet at any Indian port. 50 electric heavy trucks were launched, with expansion to 80 by year-end. A heavy-duty battery swapping station was commissioned for operations. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) ranks in the World Bank’s Top 25 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI). The launch marks a major step towards sustainable and green logistics in India.

Notes:
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) usage intensity is highest in Telangana, followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra, as per a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bulletin. The study used PhonePe transaction data, covering 58% of UPI volume and 53% of total transaction value, as a proxy for UPI intensity. The rise of UPI is reducing cash demand, reflected in declining ATM cash withdrawals as a percentage of GDP. Most peer-to-merchant (P2M) transactions are low-value, under ₹500, and the average ticket size is decreasing. High UPI usage is linked to urban centres, economic hubs, and migration-driven employment.

Notes:
The Sevilla Forum on Debt was launched on October 22, 2025, at the 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) in Geneva. It is a Spanish-led initiative supported by UNCTAD and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Forum provides an open, inclusive platform for dialogue and action on sovereign debt reform. The Forum stems from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and aligns with the Sevilla Platform for Action and Sevilla Commitment. Spain will host the Forum as a bridge between borrowers and creditors, tracking implementation of debt initiatives. Global debt reached $102 trillion in 2024; developing countries owe $31 trillion and pay $921 billion in interest

Notes:
In October 2025, the SBI Foundation, along with University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and Agribridge, launched the SMART-CROP project in Hyderabad, Telangana. The project stands for Sustainable Monitoring and Real-time Tracking for Crop Resilience and Optimal Practices. It is a three-year initiative supported under SBI Foundation’s LEAP (Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme). The project aims to enhance resilience and productivity of over 8,000 smallholder farmers in Karnataka and Telangana. It uses satellite imaging, remote sensing, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) for real-time crop stress monitoring to prevent climate, pest, and soil-related risks.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 2024-25 census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) on October 29, 2025. The census covered Indian entities’ cross-border assets and liabilities. Out of 45,702 entities, 41,517 reported Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) in their March 2025 balance sheets. The United States and Singapore together contributed over one-third of India’s total FDI. Other major contributors were Mauritius, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Total FDI stood at ₹68.76 lakh crore, higher than ₹61.88 lakh crore in 2023–24. The share of FDI was 20 percent from the United States, 14.3 percent from Singapore, 13.3 percent from Mauritius, 11.2 percent from the United Kingdom, and 9 percent from the Netherlands.

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) has recently opened its new Bengaluru Centre. IIP is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It was established in 1966 with its headquarters in Mumbai. Its main goal is to boost exports through innovative package design and improved packaging standards. It provides testing, consultancy, R&D, and training in packaging. Training is given to artisans, weavers, exporters, and stakeholders for modern and aesthetic packaging.