CURRENT AFFAIRS

The policy of Bank Nationalisation in 1969 continues to be revisited in discussions on the role of the state in economic management, financial inclusion, and banking sector reforms in India.

According to the latest estimates in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO) 2026, India has slipped to the 6th position among the world’s largest economies in terms of nominal GDP.

India is moving towards large-scale implementation of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) Tolling System, with pilot projects already operational and plans to expand the system across multiple national highways in the coming years.

Recent large-scale protests by industrial workers in regions such as Noida, Gurugram, and other industrial hubs have brought attention to a deepening minimum wage crisis in India, where workers have mobilised collectively to demand higher wages, better working conditions, and effective enforcement of labour laws.

Recent policy discussions and economic analyses have highlighted that while India’s economic growth has successfully reduced extreme poverty, it has simultaneously led to the emergence of a “vulnerable middle class”, raising concerns about the sustainability, inclusiveness, and resilience of India’s growth model.

The Sagarmala Programme has been in news due to recent progress in port modernisation, connectivity enhancement, and coastal economic zone development.

The Reserve Bank of India has issued a draft framework to review the classification and regulatory requirements of NBFCs in the Upper Layer.

The Finance Commission of India (16th Finance Commission) has recommended a significant increase in financial transfers to rural local bodies for the period 2026–31.

The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) has completed 11 years since its launch on April 8, 2015, marking a decade-long effort to empower micro and small entrepreneurs.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% in its latest Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.