Banking Awareness of 4, 5 and 6 November 2025

Topic: Reports and Indices

1. India’s services sector growth decreased to a five-month low level in October 2025.

• The decrease was because of competitive pressures and heavy rainfall, as per a survey.
• HSBC India Services PMI declined to 58.9 in October from 60.9 in September.
• Despite the decline, PMI stayed above 50-point threshold for the 51st consecutive month.
• New business continued to rise but at a reduced rate.
• Export orders grew at their weakest pace in seven months.
• Business confidence for the year ahead fell to a three-month low.
• Input cost inflation eased to the slowest rate since August 2024.
• Companies raised service prices at the weakest pace in seven months.
• HSBC Composite PMI declined to 60.4 in October from 61.0 in September.

Topic: Banking/Financial/Govt Schemes

2. Total deposits in Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts have reached beyond ₹2.75 lakh crore as of October 22, 2025.

• The number of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana beneficiaries (accounts) stood at 56.85 crore.
• Out of the total deposits, public sector banks hold ₹2.15 lakh crore of deposits.
• Regional rural banks come after public sector banks. They hold ₹51,489 crore. Private banks hold ₹8,149 crore.
• Banks has made special efforts, which have reactivated several previously inactive accounts in recent months.
• A nationwide Financial Inclusion Saturation Programme was carried out from July to September 2025.
• The programme aimed to extend Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and related schemes to all eligible citizens.
• As of August 2025, around 13 crore of the 56 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts were inactive.
• About 5% of these inactive accounts completed KYC re-verification by September-end.
• PMJDY scheme has significantly increased savings access. About 90% of Indian households now hold a bank account.

Topic: Banking System

3. Public sector banks led by SBI posted a record combined profit of ₹49,456 crore in Q2 FY26.

• This marked a 9% year-on-year increase. The total profit for all 12 PSBs in Q2 FY25 was ₹45,547 crore.
• This indicates a ₹3,909 crore rise in absolute terms.
• SBI alone contributed 40% of the total PSB earnings. Its net profit was ₹20,160 crore, 10% higher than Q2 of the previous fiscal.
• Indian Overseas Bank recorded the highest profit growth among PSBs at 58%, reaching ₹1,226 crore.
• Central Bank of India followed with a 33% rise to ₹1,213 crore.
• Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India were the only PSBs reporting declines.
• Profits fell 8% to ₹4,809 crore for Bank of Baroda and 10% to ₹4,249 crore for Union Bank of India.
• Bank of Maharashtra and Punjab & Sind Bank saw profits increase by 23%.
• Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, and Indian Bank posted 19%, 14%, and 12% growth, respectively.
• Bank of India and UCO Bank recorded single-digit profit growth of 8% and 3%, respectively.
• PSBs earned slightly higher profit of 11% in Q1 FY26. This amounted to ₹44,218 crore, compared to ₹39,974 crore in Q1 FY25.
• Aggregate profits of PSBs for the first half of FY26 crossed ₹90,000 crore.
• The total was ₹93,674 crore, up nearly 10% from ₹85,520 crore in H1 FY25.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

4. IFFCO and Amul have been recognised among the world’s leading cooperatives.

• The recognition comes from the ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025 rankings.
• The rankings were announced in Doha, Qatar. The list highlights their outstanding global performance. It is based on GDP per capita contribution.
• Amul has built a vast dairy network and represents India’s cooperative model.
• IFFCO stands out for its farmer-driven approach and promotes sustainable fertiliser production.
• Both cooperatives show India’s legacy of self-reliant growth with their work is rooted in community-based development.
• Amul or Anand Milk Union Limited is owned by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, a cooperative society.
• Its founder is Tribhuvandas Patel and headquarters are in Anand, Gujarat, India. It was started in 1946.
• IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited) is a multi-state cooperative society.
• It carries out work of manufacturing and marketing of fertiliser. It is headquartered in New Delhi. It was founded in 1967.

Topic: Reports and Indices

5. Several Indian institutions feature in the top 100 in Asia in the QS University Rankings.

• Five IITs, IISc Bengaluru and Delhi University have been placed among Asia’s top 100 institutions as per the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 announced on November 4, 2025.
• IIT-Delhi, IIT-Madras, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Kanpur and IIT-Kharagpur figured in the list along with IISc Bengaluru and Delhi University.
• The rankings were released by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
• It was stated that seven Indian institutions are in the top 100, 20 in the top 200, and 66 in the top 500 in Asia.
• Compared to last year, 36 Indian institutions improved, 16 retained the same ranking, while 105 fell.
• India was noted to rank best in Asia for “staff with PhD”.
• IIT-Delhi, ranked 59, was declared the best Indian institute for the fifth consecutive year.
• The University of Hong Kong topped the list, with Peking University ranked second.
• Institutions from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia dominated the top positions.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) have signed an MoU.

• The aim of MoU is to provide doorstep Digital Life Certificate (DLC) services to pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995.
• The MoU was exchanged during EPFO’s 73rd Foundation Day.
• IPPB will use its network of over 1.65 lakh Post Offices and 3 lakh postal service providers.
• These service points are equipped with biometric and digital devices to help pensioners submit DLCs from home.
• The service removes the need for pensioners to visit bank branches or EPFO offices.
• The process uses Aadhaar-linked Face Authentication or Fingerprint biometric authentication. This generates JeevanPramaan certificates digitally.
• IPPB had launched the Doorstep Service of Digital Life Certificate in 2020.
• IPPB is fully owned by the Government of India.
• It was established under the Department of Posts and launched on September 1, 2018.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. Indian delegation to the Second World Summit for Social Development is being led by Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.

• Second World Summit for Social Development is being held in Doha, Qatar.
• The summit is taking place from 4 November until the 6th November.
• At the summit, Dr. Mandaviya will talk about India’s commitment to growth.
• India’s Vision of Inclusive and Equitable Growth at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Ministerial Dialogue on Global Coalition for Social Justice will also be represented by Dr Mandaviya.
• Dr. Mandaviya will also join a High-Level Round Table on strengthening the three pillars of Social Development.
• The minister will also hold several bilateral meetings with leaders from Qatar, Romania, and Mauritius.
• Dr. Mandaviya will attend a session on the National Career Service (NCS) Portal.
• The NCS session is being co-hosted by the Ministry of Labour & Employment and the Indian Business and Professionals Council.

Topic: Appointments

8. Sanjay Garg assumed charge as Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards.

• Charge as the Director General of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been assumed by Sanjay Garg, IAS (1994 batch).
• The appointment came into effect from November 1.
• BIS acts as the National Standards Body of India.
• Garg has more than three decades of administrative experience in various developmental and industrial sectors.
• He has earlier served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE).
• He also functioned as Secretary of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• He led digital transformation efforts in agricultural research administration and services.
• The Kisan Sarathi Portal was expanded during his leadership to connect farmers with agricultural experts.
• His experience includes work in World Bank projects, defence industry promotion, and industrial sector reforms.
• As DG BIS, he will also serve as the President of India’s national committee in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).