Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) successfully conducted its second government bond buyback auction of FY26, infusing substantial liquidity while managing public debt maturities. Implications and Market Reaction What Are Government Bonds? Key Features Access to Investors Types of Government Bonds in India Fixed-Rate Bonds Floating Rate Bonds (FRBs) Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) Inflation-Indexed Bonds (IIBs) 7.75% GOI Savings Bond Bonds with Call or Put Options Zero-Coupon Bonds
RBI Plans Curbs on Foreign Currency Deposits Under Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to amend the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) to prevent resident Indians from parking funds in overseas time deposits or other interest-bearing foreign currency accounts, two government sources revealed. Objective Behind the Move What Will Change? What is the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)? The Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) was introduced by the RBI in 2004 to simplify foreign remittances for Indian residents. Under this scheme, individuals can send up to USD 250,000 per financial year (AprilâMarch) outside India for permissible transactions without requiring prior approval from the RBI. This means that Indian residents can freely remit funds for purposes like foreign travel, overseas education, investments, gifts, donations, medical treatment, and moreâas long as they comply with RBI guidelines.
Groww Nifty India Internet ETF
Context: Groww Mutual Fund has introduced the Groww Nifty India Internet ETF, Indiaâs first exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed to track the Nifty India Internet Index (TRI). The fund aims to offer investors exposure to Indiaâs fast-growing internet-based companies. What Is the Groww Nifty India Internet ETF? Key Features Government Support
Urban Cooperative Bank in India
Context: In a historic move, Vishweshwar Sahakari Bank, a leading Urban Cooperative Bank (UCB) based in Pune, has been granted Scheduled Bank status by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This is the first such approval in over two decades, signalling a renewed regulatory thrust to empower well-performing cooperative banks. What Are Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)? Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) are financial institutions based on the cooperative model. They emerged from co-operative credit societies where members pooled resources to provide affordable loans within the community. Four-Tier Structure Proposed by RBI (2021) RBIâs Key Recommendations for UCBs What Scheduled Bank Status Enables BS UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) Prelims Q. With reference to âUrban Cooperative Banksâ in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 1, 2 and 3
Indiaâs Retail Inflation Falls to 75-Month Low of 2.8% in May 2025
Context: Retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), dropped to 2.8% in May 2025. This is the lowest inflation rate in 75 months, last seen in February 2019. The decline was primarily led by easing food prices. Consumer Price Index (CPI) The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a key economic indicator that measures changes in the average prices of a fixed basket of goods and services over time. It reflects retail inflation and directly impacts the cost of living for households. Key Features of CPI Whatâs in the CPI Basket? How CPI Works Significance of CPI in India Types of CPI in India
Kerala Agricultural University Joins NASAâs Axiom Mission 4 with Space-Bound Seeds
Context: Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) joins the prestigious Axiom Mission 4, led by NASA, with support from the European Space Agency, ISRO, and IIST. Six high-yielding crop varieties developed by KAU will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for agricultural experiments in microgravity. The research is led by the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, under KAU. Crop Varieties Selected for Space Research Research Objectives Indian Representation in Space BL
Agri-Drone in India
Context: Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Kamlesh Paswan, inaugurated Garuda Aerospaceâs Agri-Drone Indigenisation Facility in Chennai. Spread across 35,000 sq ft, the facility is Indiaâs first hub for designing, manufacturing, and testing advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The facility aims to indigenously produce 7 drone subsystems and 33 components, furthering Indiaâs self-reliance in drone technology. What Is an Agri-Drone? An agri-drone (or farm drone) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used in agriculture to enhance productivity, monitor crop health, and optimize farming practices. These drones are equipped with cameras and sensors to collect real-time data from fields. What Agri-Drones Do? Benefits of Agri-Drones How They Work Applications in Agriculture Namo Drone Didi
Swadeshi Jagran Manch Launches âSwadeshi Suraksha evam Swavlamban Abhiyanâ
Context: Following revelations under Operation Sindoor, which reportedly exposed threats posed by China and TĂŒrkiye to India’s sovereignty and trade interests, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has intensified its economic nationalism campaign. Launch of Nationwide Campaign Swadeshi Movement (1905) Key Objectives and Aspects
Swadeshi Movement (1905)
Key Objectives and Aspects Impact and Significance
SpaceX Postpones Axiom Space Ax-4 Mission
Context: The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS), has been postponed by SpaceX due to a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak detected during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 booster. Key Details: Significance for India
