CURRENT AFFAIRS

At the India–EU Leaders’ Summit, Prime Minister of India, European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the successful conclusion of negotiations of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, tabled the Economic Survey 2025–26 in Parliament on 29 January 2026. The Survey presents a comprehensive assessment of India’s macroeconomic performance, sectoral trends, structural reforms, and future outlook.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advised the Indian government to encourage BRICS countries to collaborate on using digital currencies for cross-border payments. Such a move could reduce transaction costs, speed up settlements, and lower dependence on the US dollar.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), India’s premier retirement fund body, is undertaking a new phase of digital and institutional reforms under EPFO 3.0. These reforms aim to simplify access, enhance portability, and prepare the institution for expanded social security coverage under the Labour Codes.

As Union Budget 2026 approaches, India’s macroeconomic indicators project stability and relatively strong growth amid global uncertainty.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its State of the Economy article, has assessed India’s macroeconomic conditions using high-frequency indicators for December 2025.

Recently, the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, launched a comprehensive salary account package for central government employees in public sector banks.

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that venture capital firm Tiger Global’s $1.6-billion stake sale in Flipkart to Walmart is taxable in India.

The Reserve Bank of India has unveiled the revised Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026, aimed at improving the efficiency, accessibility, and timeliness of complaint resolution for customers of banks and other regulated entities.

The Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) has issued revised guidelines for reporting entities providing services related to Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs).