National Affairs
The Global Climate Risk Index 2025 (CRI) by Germanwatch ranked India 9th among countries worst affected by extreme weather events over the past 30 years (1995-2024) and 15th in the year-wise ranking for 2024. This highlights India’s high vulnerability to climate risks despite recent improvements.
The Union Cabinet of India approved a new Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE): up to ₹20,000 croreof collateral-free credit support to eligible exporters (MSMEs & non-MSMEs) with 100% guarantee cover through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC). This move is aimed at boosting liquidity, export competitiveness and the government’s USD 1 trillion export target.
The Cabinet also cleared a broader Export Promotion Mission (EPM) (outlay > ₹25,000 crore) to support exporters via market diversification, trade-fair participation, credit support and allied interventions.
In state-policy news, a large-scale mission titled Bharat Utkarsh Mahayagya was inaugurated in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, with thousands of devotees participating. The event is pitched as a moral-cultural initiative aligned with a “Developed India 2047” vision.
The government also launched or highlighted a rural digital infrastructure push (connectivity, e-learning, digital banking access) under its “Digital Rural India” mission, aimed at bridging urban-rural digital divide.
Railways news: The Vande Metro coaches completed key tests and will soon be deployed in major metros, signalling an upgrade in suburban urban mobility.
International Affairs
The CRI release at COP30 in Belém, Brazil flagged that over 9,700 extreme weather events occurred between 1995-2024, causing over USD 4.5 trillion in direct losses globally; India’s placement in the top ten underlines global climate-finance implications.
Several trade-policy developments: The U.S. and G20 nations are observing India’s export push and credit guarantee scheme (CGSE) closely, especially in the context of global supply-chain tensions and tariff actions.
Geopolitical updates: India is continuing to deepen ties with neighbouring and regional partners in Central Asia and Iran to expand trade routes via the Chabahar Port corridor, as part of its strategic diversification of logistics beyond Pakistan-centred routes.
Economy & Banking Sector Updates
Banking sector exam-relevant update: The CGSE scheme is significant for banking aspirants because it directly affects credit-risk, MSME financing, export-finance lending, and exposure of banks to export sectors.
The export-related credit guarantee is expected to reduce non-performing asset (NPA) risks in banks’ trade-finance portfolios, opening fresh lending flows through member lending institutions.
The climate-risk ranking update also has banking angle: climate vulnerability impacts agricultural credit, disaster insurance, infrastructure loans and public sector bank exposures in disaster-prone zones.
Financial-markets note: Export earnings and currency flows may get a boost with the EPM and CGSE in place, which may support India’s foreign exchange reserves and macro-stability.
Sports & Culture
On the sports front, double-win: An Indian shooter (first ever from India) claimed the men’s 10 m air pistol world title at the ISSF World Championship — a landmark in Indian shooting sports.
Athletics update: The national indoor athletics championships will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in January 2026, marking India’s first national indoor meet of this scale.
Doping news: The country’s anti-doping authority has imposed a five-year ban on hammer thrower Manju Bala for a violations case, underlining anti-doping vigilance in Indian sports.
Why These Updates Matter for Competitive Exams
Many bank-PO, SSC, Railways exams now include General Awareness questions on export-policy, credit-guarantee schemes, MSME support, credit-risk, and climate-science indices.
The CGSE and export-mission are recent policy moves — question setters often include “What is the scheme?”, “Which ministry?”, “Credit cover amount?”, etc.
The climate-risk ranking of India (9th) is an important number for static-GK and current-affairs rounds.
National railway/transport upgrades (Vande Metro) and rural digital mission announcements are potential GK-facts.
Sports victories, bans, national championship locations are typical “one-liner” GK content for quick recall.
Quick Facts to Remember
India ranks 9th (long-term) and 15th (annual) in CRI 2025.
CGSE launched: Up to ₹20,000 crore additional credit for exporters, 100% guarantee via NCGTC.
Export Promotion Mission (EPM) outlay: > ₹25,000 crore.
Vande Metro coaches cleared for testing; rollout to major metros.
National indoor athletics championships to be held at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, in Jan 2026.
