Banking Awareness of 29, 30 and 31 March 2026

Topic: Indian Economy/Financial Market

1. Finance Ministry has decided to borrow ₹8.20 lakh crore through dated securities between April-September of FY 2026-2027.  

• This decision has been taken by the Finance Ministry in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India.
• The amount equals about 51% of the total ₹16.09 lakh crore borrowing target.
• The amount is lower than the normal 60% plus during the first half.
• The lower share is due to high bond yields. The 10-year bond yield is currently above 6.9%.
• The total borrowing target was reduced after bond switching operations conducted after the Union Budget.
• The total borrowing now stands at ₹16.09 lakh crore. Out of this, ₹15,000 crore will be raised via sovereign green bonds.
• These bonds are meant for environmentally focused spending.
• The borrowing will be carried out through 26 weekly auctions. The securities will have maturities ranging from 3 to 50 years.
• The largest share will be in 10-year bonds. This segment accounts for 29% of the borrowing.
• Other maturities will have smaller shares. These include 3, 5, 7, 15, 30, 40, and 50-year securities.
• The government may conduct buybacks of securities. It may also switch existing securities.
• A greenshoe option may also be used. This allows retaining an extra ₹2,000 crore per auction.
• In the first quarter, Treasury Bills will also be issued weekly. The total weekly amount will be ₹24,000 crore. This will continue for 12 weeks.
• The issuance includes 91-day Treasury Bills, 182-day Treasury Bills, and 364-day Treasury Bills.
• Treasury Bills do not pay periodic interest. They are issued at a discount. They are redeemed at full face value.
• To manage short-term cash mismatches, a limit has been set.
• The Ways and Means Advances limit is ₹2.5 lakh crore. This limit has been fixed by the RBI for the first half of FY27.

Topic: Banking System

2. During FY25, most of India's private sector banks witnessed an increase in whistleblower complaints.

• Major banks such as Yes Bank, Axis Bank, and ICICI Bank recorded a higher number of complaints compared to FY24.
• HDFC Bank was the only major private bank to report a decline in such complaints during this period.
• An analysis of annual reports reveals that out of 23 listed private banks, only 8 specifically disclosed details regarding whistleblower complaints.
• Among those 8 banks, 7 reported an increase in complaints during FY25.
• Axis Bank's complaints surged to 673 in FY25, up from 494 in FY24 and 395 in FY23.
• ICICI Bank also saw a significant rise in complaints, climbing to 195 from 123 the previous year.
• Despite being under scrutiny, HDFC Bank recorded a 37% year-on-year decline in whistleblower complaints.
• Regulatory bodies, such as the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India, require banks to maintain formal whistleblower policies.
• Banks are required to provide mechanisms that ensure employees have access to senior management while simultaneously maintaining confidentiality.

Topic: Banking/Financial/Govt Schemes

3. The government has approved 29 new proposals under the electronics component manufacturing scheme.

• The total investment involved is ₹7,104 crore. The approved investments are expected to create jobs.
• Around 14,246 new jobs are likely to be generated. These jobs will be in the electronics manufacturing sector.
• The projects will also boost production. They are expected to produce electronic components.
• The total projected production value is ₹84,515 crore.
• With these approvals, the total count has increased. So far, 75 applications have been approved under the scheme.
• Electronics component manufacturing scheme (ECMS) is an initiative of  Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• It is aimed at establishing a strong electronic component ecosystem in India.
• Union Budget 2026–27 increased the outlay for the ECMS to ₹40,000 crore.

Topic: Indian Economy/Financial Market

4. Unemployment Rate declined to 3.1% in 2025 indicating structural economic shift.

• The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above has been recorded at 3.1% in 2025 under the usual status.
• This figure has declined from 3.2% in 2024 and 3.6% in 2022, indicating gradual improvement in employment conditions.
• It has been reported that unemployment among educated individuals has also reduced to 6.5% in 2025.
• A decline in urban female unemployment to 6.4% has been observed, reflecting better workforce participation.
• Youth unemployment in the 15–29 age group has decreased to 9.9% from 10.3% in 2024.
• The labour force participation rate has remained stable at 59.3% during the year.
• Around 61.6 crore persons have been estimated to be employed in the country in 2025.
• In regular wage/salaried employment, the average earnings of men increased from ₹22,891 in 2024 to ₹24,217 in 2025 (an increase of approximately 5.8%), while for women, earnings rose from ₹17,126 to ₹18,353 (an increase of approximately 7.2%).
• A structural shift has been noted with a decline in agriculture employment and a rise in manufacturing and services sectors.
• The data indicates gradual economic transformation with improved employment distribution across sectors.

Topic: Taxation

5. Central Excise Duty on Petrol and Diesel reduced by ₹10 per litre to protect consumers.

• The central excise duty on petrol and diesel has been reduced by ₹10 per litre each for domestic consumption by the Government.
• The decision has been taken in view of the ongoing West Asia crisis to mitigate its economic impact.
• It has been stated that the move is intended to protect consumers from a potential rise in fuel prices.
• The reduction is expected to provide relief by stabilising the cost of essential fuels in the domestic market.
• Export duties have been imposed on diesel at ₹21.5 per litre to regulate its availability within the country.
• Similarly, aviation turbine fuel has been subjected to an export duty of ₹29.5 per litre.
• These measures are aimed at ensuring adequate domestic supply of petroleum products.
• The government has emphasised its commitment to shielding citizens from fluctuations in global supply conditions.

Topic: RBI

6. The Reserve Bank of India has unveiled its ‘Payments Vision 2028’ to provide direction to India’s burgeoning digital payments sector.

• This roadmap is themed around ‘Shaping India’s Payment Frontier’.
• It emphasizes strengthening user control and security in digital transactions.
• Enhancing the efficiency of cross-border payments is one of its primary objectives.
• The vision aims to streamline business operations further and promote the ‘Ease of Doing Business’.
• This strategy outlines the goals and actions to be achieved by December 2028.
• The RBI has proposed establishing interoperability among ‘Trade Receivables Discounting Systems’ (TReDS) to enhance financing efficiency.
• It plans to introduce a ‘Switch On/Off’ option for digital payments, similar to existing Card Control Features.
• This feature aims to assist users in managing their transactions and mitigating the risks of fraud.
• It also seeks to simplify regulatory approvals under the ‘Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007’ and the ‘Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999’.
• In cases of unauthorized digital transactions, an approach of ‘Shared Liability’ between the payment-issuing and receiving banks is being considered.

Topic: Reports and Indices

7. World Economic Forum report states that India is emerging as a major global hub for electro-technology manufacturing.

• The country is leveraging affordable solar energy and advancements in battery technology to drive this transformation.
• India is pursuing a development path designed to avoid excessive reliance on fossil fuels.
• This approach differs from the traditional development models adopted by Western nations and China.
• India's strategy places a strong emphasis on energy independence and sustainability.
• The report suggests that this model could also serve as a guide for other emerging economies.
• Currently, solar energy contributes approximately 9% to India's total electricity generation.
• India's per capita coal consumption is significantly lower than that of China, a nation at a comparable stage of development.
• Oil demand in India remains relatively low and is not expected to rise rapidly.
• This shift is also clearly evident within the transportation sector.
• Electric passenger vehicles currently account for approximately 5% of total car sales.
• Electric three-wheelers are at the forefront of their segment, commanding a market share of nearly 60%.
• India is recognized as a global leader in the adoption of electric three-wheelers.
• The country's per capita electricity consumption is now approaching 1,500 kWh per year.
• The cost of solar energy—inclusive of storage capabilities—is now roughly half the cost of constructing new coal-fired power plants.
• India's electronics sector has expanded sixfold, reaching a total value of $130 billion.
• Solar module manufacturing capacity has reached approximately 120 GW, while solar cell production capacity stands at around 18 GW.
• India is actively developing integrated supply chains across various electro-technology sectors.
• The country aims to position itself as a major global exporter of electro-tech products.

Topic: Reports and Indices

8. IIT ISM Dhanbad ranked 21st globally in Mineral and Mining Engineering in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

• The institute has retained its position as the top-ranked institution in India in this specialised field.
• In Petroleum Engineering, the institute has been placed in the 151–175 global rank band while securing the 4th position in India.
• Mechanical Engineering has been included for the first time in the rankings with a global position in the 501–575 band.
• The institute has also achieved the 110th rank in the QS World University Rankings Southern Asia 2026.
• This achievement reflects the institute’s consistent focus on quality education, research, and innovation.
• The performance highlights the strengthening of India’s global presence in engineering and mining education.
• The institute, established in 1926, continues to build its reputation as a premier centre for technical education.