Banking, Finance & Economy IDFC FIRST Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FPSB India as an Approved Corporate Partner — aiming to upskill its wealth-management and private banking staff through professional certification programs and strengthen financial-planning services. The interlinkage process between India’s digital payment infrastructure (NPCI / UPI) and the European real-time payment…
National Developments The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its November 2025 “State of the Economy” report stated that India is poised to enter a virtuous investment-cycle, driven by increasing investment flows, stronger productivity and resilient growth, despite global headwinds. The RBI also issued a cautionary note that global financial markets are showing ‘heightened exuberance’,…
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…
📰 National Affairs A car explosion near the Red Fort metro station in New Delhi has been officially classified as a terror incident – the government says “anti-national forces” were involved. The investigative agency National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe of the blast; several arrests are underway, and authorities are examining links…
National Affairs The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 provisions relating to nominations in bank deposit accounts and safe custody items came into effect from 1 November 2025. Depositors can now nominate up to four individuals for their bank accounts and safety-lockers. New financial rule-changes effective November 2025 include : changes in bank website domain names,…
1. National Affairs (India) The price of petrol and diesel in India remained unchanged on 3 November 2025, marking the 11-month streak of stability since December 2024. In Delhi, petrol is at ₹94.72 / litre and diesel at ₹87.62; Mumbai records petrol at ₹103.50 and diesel at ₹89.87. This sustained stability is attributed to global…
1. National News & Developments Biometric Authentication for UPI launched From 08 October 2025, India begins implementing biometric authentication (face recognition / fingerprints) for digital payments via UPI. The move shifts away from PIN-based authentication, aiming to strengthen payment security and convenience for users. This aligns with recent guidelines by the Reserve Bank of India…
1. National News & Developments Bank Holiday / Valmiki Jayanti– On 07.10.2025, many states, including Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, observed a public holiday on account of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti.– As a result, most banks across the country remained closed following RBI’s holiday calendar.– Educational institutions, government offices and schools in affected states also remained shut….
📰 National Affairs (India) India–EU FTA Talks Begin (14th Round) On 6 October, India and the European Union commenced the 14th round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations in Brussels. Emphasis is on breaking deadlocks in tariffs, non-tariff barriers, regulatory harmonization, sustainability, and market access. Both sides aim to finalise the deal before year-end. Piyush…
1. Key National Developments RBI holds key repo rate at 5.50%The Reserve Bank of India retained its repo rate at 5.50% and adopted a neutral stance. Signals have indicated the possibility of a rate cut in December, contingent on inflation and growth trends. Inflation forecasts have been revised downward, and GDP growth estimates have been…
