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.
NABARD Current Affairs
PIB in News
1. Action Plan for Strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendras
Source: PIB
Context Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a meeting in New Delhi to review the Action Plan for strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) through enhanced State participation — focused on implementing recommendations from the 5th Chief Secretaries’ Conference 2025.
About KVKs
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras — district-level farm science centres, funded by ICAR and hosted by State Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutes, NGOs and state departments
- The first KVK was established at Puducherry in 1974
- Coordinated regionally through ATARIs — Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes
- Mandate: on-farm testing, frontline demonstrations, capacity building of farmers and extension personnel, and serving as knowledge and resource centres
Focus Areas
- Crop production
- Horticulture
- Animal husbandry
- Fisheries
- Soil and water management
- Farm machinery and technology
- Value addition and post-harvest management
2. Next-Gen Aquaculture: RAS and Biofloc Technology
Source: PIB
Context A PIB feature on how Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Biofloc technology are transforming Indian aquaculture under PMMSY, advancing the Blue Economy and the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat visions.
India’s Position in Global Fisheries
- Second-largest fish producer — about 8 per cent of global fish production
- Second-largest aquaculture producer
- Largest producer and exporter of shrimp
- Second-largest in capture fisheries
- Supports the livelihoods of nearly three crore fishers and fish farmers
What is RAS?
- RAS = Recirculatory Aquaculture System
- Fish are raised in a controlled environment.
- Water is continuously filtered, treated and reused.
- Can recycle up to 90–95% of water.
What is Biofloc Technology?
- Uses beneficial microorganisms to improve water quality.
- Microbes convert fish waste and excess nutrients into microbial biomass.
- This biomass can also become an additional food source for fish.
- Helps reduce water exchange and improve resource efficiency.
RAS vs Biofloc — Simple Difference
- RAS: Mainly depends on mechanical and biological water filtration + recirculation.
- Biofloc: Mainly depends on beneficial microbes to manage waste and water quality.
Agriculture Current Affairs in News
1. Osbeckia ulotricha: New Plant Species Discovered in Western Ghats
- Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered the new flowering plant species Osbeckia ulotricha in the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.
- It occurs in shola grasslands and montane ecosystems of Kerala and Tamil Nadu at around 1,200–1,500 metres elevation.
- It belongs to the Melastomataceae family and has distinctive morphological features.
- The discovery highlights the floral biodiversity and conservation importance of the Western Ghats.
2. IMF G20 Report on Strong, Sustainable, Balanced and Inclusive Growth
- The IMF’s latest SSBIG report estimates medium-term G20 growth at only 3%, close to its weakest level since the framework began in 2009.
- Around half of G20 advanced economies face growth constraints because of restrictive labour, product or consumer-market regulations.
- Nearly three-fourths of G20 emerging-market economies also face regulatory constraints.
- The report stresses regulatory and institutional reforms to encourage private investment, public investment and long-term economic growth.
3. PACT Platform Launched for Zero-Emission Freight
- NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba launched the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT) at the 5th e-FAST India Summit 2026.
- PACT aims to aggregate freight demand from shippers, Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) and other stakeholders.
- It will help create deployment opportunities for zero-emission trucks across identified freight corridors.
- The summit also introduced the ZET Marketplace, bringing together vehicle manufacturers, financiers, charging operators and freight stakeholders.
RBI Current Affairs
Banking and Finance
1. FATF Report on Tech-Driven Hawala Networks
- The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) highlighted the transformation of traditional hawala networks into technology-enabled systems.
- The combination of virtual assets and hawala has created what is described as “digital hawala”, increasing risks of money laundering and terrorist financing.
- Nearly 70% of surveyed jurisdictions reported the use of new technologies in underground banking and hawala-type networks.
- FATF stressed stronger investigation, supervision and international cooperation to tackle professional money laundering and underground banking.
2. LIC Gets RBI Approval to Acquire Up to 9.99% in ICICI Bank
- The Reserve Bank of India approved Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) acquiring up to 9.99% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of ICICI Bank.
- LIC already held around 4.35% of ICICI Bank as of Q1 FY27.
- The approval is subject to applicable statutory and regulatory conditions.
- LIC must acquire the approved stake within one year from September 4, 2026, otherwise the approval will lapse.
RBI and NABARD Current Affairs
1. The BRICS ‘POWER’ Framework
Source: The Hindu
Context Ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong proposed a ‘POWER’ framework for Greater BRICS — calling for stronger Global South cooperation, closer India-China coordination, and collaboration on AI and supply chains.
The Context of Succession
- India chairs BRICS in 2026; China takes over in 2027
- The framework is pitched as guiding political, financial, technological and developmental cooperation across the two consecutive presidencies
- BRICS has evolved from an economic dialogue forum into a leading multilateral platform for the Global South, offering an alternative to Western-dominated institutions such as the G-7
Key Figures
- Greater BRICS encompasses nearly half the global population
- Contributes about 30 per cent of global GDP, with a PPP share exceeding one-third
- Accounts for one-fifth of global trade turnover, controlling production nodes in electronics, steel, critical minerals and agriculture
Five Pillars
| Pillar | Focus | Key Measures |
|---|---|---|
| P — Principle | Sovereign equality & international law | Uphold UN Charter, non-interference and peaceful dispute resolution |
| O — Openness | Multilateral trade | Protect WTO rules, MFN treatment and resist protectionist tariff barriers |
| W — Win-Win | Development | Promote SDGs, local-currency settlements, cross-border payment interoperability and reciprocal credit |
| E — Engine | Growth & industrialisation | Cooperation in DPI, green technology, smart manufacturing and AI |
| R — Responsibility | Global South leadership | Use India (2026) and China (2027) presidencies for policy continuity; push reforms of Bretton Woods institutions and UNSC |
2. UK Recognises India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme
Source: ET
Context The United Kingdom has recognised India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as a qualifying criterion for pricing relief under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) — a move expected to reduce the tax burden on Indian exporters.
What CBAM Is
- A carbon border tax levied on imports of carbon-intensive goods
- Its purpose is to prevent carbon leakage — production shifting to countries with weaker climate rules to avoid domestic carbon costs
- The importer pays a charge reflecting the carbon embedded in the goods, equalising treatment with domestically produced goods that already bear a carbon price
- Typically covers iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity
Why Recognition Reduces the Liability
- CBAM is designed to charge for carbon that has not already been priced in the country of origin
- If an exporter has already paid a carbon price at home, that amount is deducted from the border charge
- Recognition of the CCTS means carbon costs paid under India’s own scheme now count as a credit against UK CBAM liability
- Without recognition, Indian exporters would have paid twice — once under CCTS domestically and again at the UK border
About India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme
- Notified in 2023 under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022
- Administered by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power
- Has two mechanisms:
- Compliance mechanism — obligated entities in energy-intensive sectors must meet emission-intensity targets
- Offset mechanism — non-obligated entities can register projects and earn tradeable credits
- Succeeds the earlier PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) scheme
- Credits are traded on power exchanges, with the Grid Controller of India as registry and CERC as regulator
Economy in News
1. IMF Warns of Weak Medium-Term G20 Growth
- The IMF estimates medium-term G20 economic growth at around 3%, highlighting a weak global growth outlook.
- Restrictive regulations in labour, product and consumer markets are limiting growth in several G20 economies.
- Emerging-market economies particularly face institutional and regulatory weaknesses that discourage private and public investment.
- The IMF calls for structural, regulatory and institutional reforms to improve productivity and investment.
2. Zero-Emission Freight Push Through PACT
- The PACT platform seeks to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission trucks in India’s freight sector.
- It aggregates freight demand and converts it into opportunities for deployment across specific freight corridors.
- The initiative connects shippers, LSPs, manufacturers, financiers and charging-point operators.
- It supports India’s broader transition towards cleaner and more sustainable transport.
3. Bisleri–SBI Partnership for Plastic Waste Management
- Bisleri International partnered with State Bank of India (SBI) under the Bottles for Change initiative.
- The partnership promotes segregation, collection and recycling of used plastic.
- Awareness and training programmes will be conducted for SBI employees and housekeeping staff.
- The initiative supports India’s transition towards a circular economy and sustainable workplace practices.
Social Issue in News
1. UNGA Declares November 27 as International Day Against Child Marriage
- The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage.
- India was among the 70 co-sponsors of the resolution, which was adopted without a vote.
- The first observance will take place on 27 November 2026.
- Countries are encouraged to develop multisectoral national strategies, action plans, laws and policies to eliminate child, early and forced marriage.
2. WhatsApp Introduces Bill Payments Through Bharat Connect
- WhatsApp launched a native Bill Payments facility in India through the Bharat Connect network.
- Users can pay electricity, gas, water, FASTag, insurance, credit-card and loan bills.
- The service provides access to 22,722 billers across 30 categories.
- Payments can be made using UPI, debit cards and credit cards, improving the convenience of digital bill payments.
Miscellaneous GA in News
1. Dinamalar Completes 75 Years
- Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released a commemorative postage stamp marking the 75th anniversary of Dinamalar in Chennai.
- Dinamalar was established in 1951 by T. V. Ramasubbaiyer and became an important Tamil-language newspaper.
- The Vice President highlighted its contribution to journalism, public service and education.
- He also appreciated its Pattam publication aimed at improving students’ general awareness, language skills and scientific knowledge.
2. IIT Madras’ Bodhan AI Launches Multilingual AI Models
- Bodhan AI, the Centre of Excellence in AI for Education at IIT Madras, launched four multilingual AI models as Digital Public Goods.
- The models cover speech recognition, text-to-speech, machine translation and optical character recognition (OCR).
- Speech recognition supports 27 languages, while OCR and TTS support 23 languages and translation supports 22 languages.
- The models will contribute to India’s Bharat Education AI (EduAI) Stack, including tools such as a Student Tutor Bot and Teacher Assistant Bot.
3. Munitions India–Drogo Aerospace MoU for Indigenous UAVs
- Munitions India Limited (MIL) signed an MoU with Drogo Aerospace for developing indigenous UAVs and loitering munition systems.
- Drogo Aerospace will contribute UAV platforms and payload hardware, while MIL will provide expertise in munitions, explosives, fuzing and warhead technologies.
- The partnership includes UAV–munition integration, safety evaluation, field trials and quality certification.
- The collaboration is aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous defence technology capabilities.
4. Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum Rocket Launch
- German startup Isar Aerospace launched its Spectrum rocket from Andøya Spaceport, Norway.
- Spectrum is a two-stage orbital launch vehicle designed for small and medium-sized satellites.
- The mission carried five CubeSats from European universities and companies.
- The launch represents an important development in Europe’s private commercial space-launch sector.
5. Ahuti Mk II Becomes India’s Fastest Multirotor UAV
- Defence startup Apollyon Dynamics‘ Ahuti Mk II achieved a certified top speed of 498 km/h.
- It surpassed the previous benchmark of around 325 km/h, making it India’s fastest multirotor UAV.
- The interceptor drone is designed to counter hostile drones and loitering munitions.
- The system has undergone testing at Indian Army ranges with support from defence authorities.
6. Italian Grand Prix 2026
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes won the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 6 September 2026.
- He became the first Italian to win the Italian GP in 60 years, since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.
- George Russell finished second, while Max Verstappen secured third place.
- Antonelli started from 19th position but recovered through an aggressive race strategy to secure victory.
7. International Vulture Awareness Day 2026
- International Vulture Awareness Day was observed on 5 September 2026, the first Saturday of September.
- The day highlights the ecological importance of vultures and the threats faced by their populations.
- The initiative originated in 2006 through collaboration between organisations in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
- In India, MoEFCC organised conservation-related events, including a national workshop in Panchkula, Haryana.
8. S. R. Janakiraman Passes Away at 98
- Renowned Carnatic vocalist and musicologist S. R. Janakiraman passed away at the age of 98 in Chennai.
- He was born on 12 July 1928 in Lalgudi, Tamil Nadu.
- He received the Padma Shri in 2011 for his contribution to the arts.
- He was widely respected for his lecture-demonstrations, musicological research, writings and contribution to Carnatic music education.
