Daily Current Affairs Quiz | NABARD Grade A & RBI Grade B | Economy, Banking & Agriculture
Daily Current Affairs for NABARD Grade A and RBI Grade B 2026 covering the most important developments in Indian Economy, Banking, RBI, Agriculture, Rural Development, Government Schemes, Financial Markets, Reports & Indices, International Relations, Environment and Science & Technology.
RBI and NABARD Current Affairs
Agriculture Current Affairs in News
1. Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA)
Source: The Hindu
Context: Maritime security experts stressed the urgent need to accelerate the IPMDA to ensure unimpeded global trade and freedom of navigation, amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
What is IPMDA?
- A technology-driven multilateral security initiative launched by the Quad — India, Australia, Japan and the United States.
- What it provides: a shared, near-real-time maritime operational picture across the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
How It Works
IPMDA fuses three data sources:
- Commercial satellite radio-frequency (RF) data
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
- Automatic Identification System (AIS)
What it achieves: tracking dark vessels, preventing illegal maritime activity, and protecting Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
Origin and Architecture
- Launched: formally announced by Quad leaders at the Tokyo Summit in May 2022, as a non-military, public-good initiative supporting regional maritime transparency.
2. MALHAR 2026
Source: PIB
Context: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated ‘MALHAR 2026’, a youth-centric, monsoon-themed celebration of Indian classical music, organised by Antar Hriday Connect in New Delhi.
About MALHAR 2026
- Objective: a cultural programme showcasing India’s classical music traditions and celebrating its diverse artistic heritage, while providing a platform for classical musicians, traditional performers and music enthusiasts.
- Activities: competitions and performances across classical and contemporary music, dance, theatre and literary events.
- Participation: wide participation from educational institutions, cultural groups and emerging artists representing different regions of India.
What is Malhar Raga?
- A classical music tradition associated with the monsoon season (Varsha Ritu), linked to the legendary 16th-century court musician Tansen.
- The tradition behind it. Indian classical music assigns ragas to seasons and times of day. Malhar belongs to the rains, and the enduring legend holds that Tansen’s rendition of Miyan ki Malhar could bring down rainfall.
- Tansen was one of the Navaratnas — the nine gems — at the court of Akbar. He is credited with creating several ragas including Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Todi and Darbari Kanada.
- Related ragas in the Malhar family: Megh Malhar, Miyan ki Malhar, Gaud Malhar, Ramdasi Malhar.
3. Reclaiming Assam’s Elephant Habitat Through Invasive Plant Management
Source: The Hindu
Context: A project in Assam aims to improve the quality of an elephant habitat by removing invasive alien plants (IAPs) and converting them into biochar — turning a botanical liability into a carbon-rich asset.
Where the Project Is
- Location: Khalingduar Reserve Forest, under the Dhansiri Forest Division, Udalguri district, Assam — bordering Bhutan
- Region: the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR)
- Implementing organisation: Aaranyak, a Guwahati-based biodiversity conservation organisation
The Three Invasive Species Targeted
- Lantana camara
- Chromolaena odorata
- Mikania micrantha
The problem they cause: although these species can provide nectar resources or structural cover, their proliferation is altering native plant communities and constraining regeneration.
They compete with native vegetation for light, space, moisture and nutrients, gradually stifling the growth of native grasses, herbs, shrubs and naturally regenerating trees.
The Three-Part Method
- One — Targeted IAP management. Existing vegetation was catalogued to identify patches with substantial IAP dominance. Based on the survey, IAPs were manually uprooted to minimise regrowth and reduce competitive pressure on regenerating vegetation.
- Two — Seed-ball-assisted regeneration. Native seeds encased in clay and compost are scattered in cleared areas, so native vegetation reclaims the space rather than the invasives returning.
- Three — Conversion of cleared biomass into biochar.
What is Biochar?
- A fine-grained, porous, charcoal-like substance made by heating organic waste in a controlled environment with little or no oxygen.
- How it differs from burning: instead of burning to ash, this thermal process transforms the biomass into a stable, solid form of carbon that resists decay and can remain in the ground for thousands of years.
- The process is called pyrolysis. Ordinary burning releases the carbon back into the atmosphere as CO2. Pyrolysis locks most of it into a solid form that does not decompose — which is why biochar counts as carbon sequestration rather than disposal.
What biochar does in soil. Its properties vary considerably with feedstock and production conditions, but its porous structure can influence:
- Soil water retention
- Nutrient retention
- Soil aggregation
- Microbial habitat
4. Himachal Pradesh and ISB Sign MoU for Forest Economy
- Himachal Pradesh Forest Department signed a 5-year MoU with ISB-BIPP.
- The partnership aims to unlock an estimated ₹22,600 crore forest and pastoral economy.
- Major resources include amla, pine needles, wild mangoes, sal seeds and rhododendron flowers.
5. National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II Launched
- The Ministry of Rural Development launched National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II under DAY-NRLM.
- The three-month campaign will run from 21 August to 21 November 2026.
- It aims to train 5 lakh SHG women, formalise 50,000 enterprises and support the goal of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis.
RBI Current Affairs
Banking and Finance
1. IRDAI Tightens Enforcement of Expense of Management Limits
Source: Business Standard
Context: IRDAI’s action against life and non-life insurers for breaching Expense of Management (EoM) limits signals that the regulator is serious about bringing operating and distribution costs within prescribed limits.
What Happened
IRDAI barred four insurers from opening new places of business for six months, after they breached the regulator-mandated EoM limits for 2024-25:
- Edelweiss Life Insurance
- Pramerica Life Insurance
- ACKO General Insurance
- Niva Bupa Health Insurance
What is Expense of Management?
- EoM is the total of an insurer’s operating expenses and distribution costs — salaries, office costs, marketing, and crucially commissions paid to agents and brokers.
- IRDAI caps EoM as a percentage of premium.
- Why the cap exists. Every rupee an insurer spends on running itself is a rupee not available for paying claims or for reducing premiums. A regulator that lets expenses run unchecked ends up with policyholders paying more for less.
- As a senior private sector insurance official put it, bringing costs within limits frees up more funds for claims and improves affordability.
2. Rural-Urban Divide in Female Labour Force Participation: PLFS 2025
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025 shows a significant increase in the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) since 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic — with the rise more pronounced in rural areas than urban.
Key Figures to Remember
- Overall FLFPR (age 15+): rose from 30% in 2019-20 to 40% in 2025
- Rural FLFPR: rose from 33% to 45.9%
- Urban FLFPR: rose from 23.3% to 27.7%
What FLFPR Means
- The Female Labour Force Participation Rate is the share of working-age women who are either working or actively looking for work.
- It counts both the employed and the unemployed-but-seeking. A woman engaged only in unpaid domestic work is not counted in the labour force.
Average Annual Percentage Point (AAPP)
- The article uses Average Annual Percentage Point (AAPP) change — how many percentage points a State’s FLFPR rose each year on average between 2019-20 and 2025.
- The limitation: AAPP measures only the pace of change, not the level a State started from
Rural Areas
| Category | States |
|---|---|
| Above national average | West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana |
| Below national average | Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, 5 Southern States |
Rural: Baseline + Pace
| Category | States |
|---|---|
| Low baseline + fast improvement | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Haryana |
| Low baseline + slow improvement | Goa, Punjab |
| High baseline + fast improvement | Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan |
| High baseline + slow improvement | Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, 5 Southern States |
Urban Areas
| Category | States |
|---|---|
| Strongest improvement | Rajasthan, Gujarat |
| Above national average | Uttarakhand, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh |
| Below national average | Remaining States |
Urban: Baseline + Pace
| Category | States |
|---|---|
| Low baseline + fast improvement | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Bihar |
| Low baseline + slow improvement | Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab |
| High baseline + fast improvement | Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh |
3. SEBI Study Shows Heavy Losses for Retail Derivatives Traders
- SEBI studies found that retail participation in equity derivatives declined for the first time in a decade in FY26.
- The number of unique investors fell to 8.75 million, while retail traders suffered a combined net loss of ₹91,685 crore.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 traders made losses, with options accounting for around 92% of total losses.
4. EPFO 3.0: Pension Plan Proposed for Construction Workers
- EPFO is considering a pension scheme for construction workers using surplus funds collected through the Building and Other Construction Workers (BoCW) cess.
- The proposal is part of the planned EPFO 3.0 reforms.
- The initiative could provide greater social-security coverage to construction workers.
5. Razorpay Launches Multi-Currency EEFC Facility
- Razorpay launched a multi-currency EEFC settlement facility for exporters in partnership with RBL Bank.
- It supports USD, EUR, GBP, AED and SGD.
- The facility allows exporters to retain foreign-currency earnings and manage forex conversion more efficiently.
RBI and NABARD Current Affairs
1. India to Surpass China in Affluent Consumers by 2036: Report
Source: Times of India
Context: India is projected to have 10.8 crore affluent consumers by 2036, marginally surpassing China’s 10.3 crore, according to a joint report by NielsenIQ and World Data Lab.
How the Report Defines Its Terms
- Affluent consumers — people spending more than $90 a day
- Core consumers — people spending between $13 and $90 a day
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| India affluent consumers (2026) | 2.6 crore |
| India affluent consumers (2036) | 10.8 crore |
| India’s increase | +8.2 crore |
| China affluent consumers (2036) | 10.3 crore |
| China’s increase | +6.2 crore |
| India core consumers (2026) | 64.9 crore |
| U.S. affluent consumers (2036) | 23.1 crore |
| World affluent consumers (2036) | 102.5 crore |
| Global increase (2026–2036) | +36.9 crore |
| Largest rise among countries shown | India |
2. The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Context: The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed a $230 million loan agreement for the Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project, to modernise Chennai’s water supply and wastewater infrastructure.
What is the ADB?
- A regional multilateral development bank dedicated to promoting social and economic progress, eradicating extreme poverty, and fostering sustainable, inclusive growth across Asia and the Pacific.
- How it is structured: modelled closely on the World Bank, operating through a weighted voting system where voting power is proportional to member capital subscriptions.
Important Facts for Exams
- ADB established 19 December 1966; headquartered at Manila, Philippines
- President: Masato Kanda
- 69 members — 49 regional, 20 non-regional
- Weighted voting proportional to capital subscription
- Asian Development Fund (ADF) — its concessional lending window
- India is a founding member and among its largest borrowers
- Compare with AIIB (Beijing, 2016) and NDB (Shanghai, equal founder voting)
- Recent India project: $230 million for the Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project, aligned with AMRUT 2.0 and the Urban Challenge Fund
3. Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0)
Source: News on Air
Context: The Indian Army’s Territorial Army, with the non-profit think tank CyberPeace, launched the third edition of Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0).
What It Is
- An apex national defence hackathon and cyber challenge organised by the Territorial Army.
- It serves as an open-innovation bridge connecting the Armed Forces with ethical hackers, software developers, AI researchers and digital communicators.
- Aim: develop indigenous cyber solutions, identify vulnerabilities, and strengthen India’s defence against cyber and information warfare.
4. Paradip Port Gets ₹427.80 Crore Infrastructure Projects
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated seven projects worth ₹427.80 crore at Paradip Port in Odisha.
- Major projects include capital dredging, a new bridge, PNG supply and an Advanced Vessel Traffic Management System.
- Three additional mechanisation projects worth ₹1,580.36 crore were also taken up to improve port capacity.
5. INS Mangrol Delivered to Indian Navy
- Cochin Shipyard Limited delivered INS Mangrol, the third of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts.
- The vessel has around 80% indigenous content.
- It is equipped with shallow-water sonar, lightweight torpedoes and indigenous anti-submarine rockets.
6. DGFT Eases Rupee Invoicing Rules for Exporters
- DGFT has relaxed rules allowing exporters greater flexibility to invoice overseas transactions in Indian rupees or foreign currencies.
- Eligible rupee payments can now qualify for FTP benefits and fulfilment of export obligations.
- The clarification excludes Nepal and Bhutan from this specific benefit.
7. ADB Provides $230 Million for Chennai Water Infrastructure
- India and the Asian Development Bank signed a $230 million loan agreement to modernise Chennai’s water supply and sanitation system.
- Chennai will implement a comprehensive ring-main water supply system under the project.
- The project aims to improve climate resilience, public health and access to safe water.
8. India-Singapore Expand Cooperation in Key Emerging Sectors
- India and Singapore strengthened cooperation in semiconductors, digital payments, fintech, green energy, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
- Both countries are also exploring cooperation in space technology, Small Modular Reactors and cybersecurity.
- The partnership includes initiatives related to semiconductors, green hydrogen and digital connectivity.
9. India-Mauritius Sign Energy Cooperation Agreements
- India and Mauritius signed agreements to strengthen cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
- Indian Oil Corporation signed a 5-year agreement with Mauritius for assured supplies of petrol, diesel and ATF.
- The agreements aim to strengthen long-term energy security and bilateral cooperation.
10. Chhattisgarh Strengthens PM GatiShakti Implementation
- Chhattisgarh signed MoUs with BISAG-N and NLDSL to improve geospatial planning and logistics management.
- The state has onboarded 35+ departments and mapped 600+ additional data layers.
- The initiative will support data-driven infrastructure and supply-chain planning.
11. Supreme Court Bans Construction Near Jojari River in Rajasthan
- The Supreme Court imposed an interim ban on construction and development within 100 metres of the Jojari River in Rajasthan.
- The Court took the step over concerns about industrial pollution, untreated effluents, groundwater contamination and damage to agriculture and wildlife.
- The case is being heard in In Re: 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan.
12. International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism
- The day was observed on 21 August 2026.
- 2026 Theme: Healing Through Memory.
- The UN observes the day to honour victims and survivors of terrorism and support their recovery and rehabilitation.
13. International Day for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
- The day was observed on 22 August 2026.
- It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2019.
- The day promotes protection of victims, religious tolerance and respect for human rights.
Misc GA in News
1. India Demonstrates Indigenous 5 kN Rotating Detonation Engine
- Defence startup D-Propulse Aerospace demonstrated India’s first indigenous 5 kN air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE).
- The system uses pressure-gain combustion, which can improve propulsion efficiency.
- The technology has achieved Technology Readiness Level-5 (TRL-5).
2. Sowcar Janaki Dies at 94
- Veteran actress Sowcar Janaki passed away at the age of 94 in Chennai.
- She worked in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi cinema.
- She received the Padma Shri in 2022 for her contribution to Indian cinema.
3. Nanda Malini Dies at 82
- Iconic Sri Lankan singer Nanda Malini passed away at the age of 82.
- She was an influential voice in Sri Lankan music during the political and social changes of the 1970s and 1980s.
- She had studied Hindustani music at Bhatkhande College of Hindustani Music in Lucknow.
